i Munt— i B i vrjirma ' MC i M ttiaagawMwJ— 11^ 




LIBILIRY OF CONGRESS. 

jy/..// >.I/..k..5' I 

. ^ 

. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. !' 



SONGS IN THE VALLEY OF ACHOR 



SONG S IN THE VALLEY 
OF ACHOR. 



BY 



SOPHIE E. C. DOWNING, 



WJTB AN INTRODUCTION. 



In inemoriam. 



AND SHE SHALX* SINQ T H E R E."— JZOS^a il. 15. 



i\^4^M^^; 



NEW TORE: 
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY, 

770 BROADWAY. 






Entered according to Act of Congress In the year 1874, by 

Anson D. F. Randolph & Company, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



ROBERT RUTTER, 

BINDER, 

84 BEEKMAN STflEET, N. T. 



EDWARD 0. JENKINS, 

PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER. 

20 NORTH WILLIAM 3T., N. Y. 



CONTENTS 



DEDICATION, 

INTRODUCTORY SKETCH, 

THE VALLEY OF ACHOR, 

WATCHING AND WAITING, 

WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE ? 

PASSION FLOWERS, 

''WE ARE A SPECTACLE (THEATRE) UNTO 

WORLD," 

"TO KNOW HIM AND THE FELLOWSHIP O 

SUFFERINGS," .... 

SHADOWS ON THE DOOR, 

LILIES, 

JEWELS, 

ONE LIGHT 

RED AND WHITE CARNATIONS, 
IF SO BE WE SUFFER WITH HIM, 
''HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID 
A HEART CRY, 



THE 



F HIS 



" THOU KNOWEST THAT I LOVE 
THE TWO KNOCKINGS, 
WHAT ;r^^ DEATH? 
WHAT /S DEATH ? 



n-.E, 



CONTENTS. 



WATCH, ... 

AFRAID, 

-LET HIM KISS ME WITH THE KISSES OF HIS 
MOUTH," ... 

" I SLEEP, BUT MY HEART WAKETH," 

'' MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING," 

A THANKSGIVING HYMN, 

•' THE STASTER IS COME, AND CALLETH FOR THEE," 



PAGE 

49 



SELECTIONS FROM EARLIER POEMS. 

THE GRACIOUS INVITATION, 

" I AM THY SALVATION," 

THE ATTRACTING POWER OF THE CROSS, 

NOTHING CAN HARM THE CHRISTIAN, 
"WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG, 
CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL, 
" SHADOWS," . , . . 

LIGHT, 

" HE KNOWS AND HE LOVES," 
OCTOBER 31ST., 1867, 



DEDICATION. 



Saviour, these songs are Thine ! 
For, if within my soul, there is one trace 

Of holy love, or heavenly fire, 

Of noble thought or pure desire, 
And it was planted by Thy wondrous grace ; 

Therefore, these songs are Thine ! 

Saviour, these songs are Thine I 
Though sung in accent faltering and weak, 

Yet of a heart entirely given to Thee, 

Of earnest love for Him who died for me, 
Most dear and loving Master, let them speak 

Saviour, these songs are Thine! 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



I. 

" To the praise of the glory of His grace." 

IN that day when the Lord of Hosts makes up 
His jewels, He will not hide them or show them 
only to a favored few ; but, since their beauty is 
His workmanship, and their comeliness His glory, 
He will, we may believe, be admired in them by 
all His hosts. 

So also, if, even before that day, the traces of 
His wonderful working, and the comeliness He puts 
upon any of the souls He loves, be easily discern- 
ible, and worthy of special and grateful recogni- 
tion and admiration, they should not be — He 
would not have them — hidden from the knowl- 
edge of His people here on earth. They are a 
theatre on which His gracious dealings, the won- 
ders of His transforming, sanctifying, and sup- 
porting power are displayed, to cheer and instruct, 

(iiO 



iv INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

to comfort and encourage others in the way, and 
it is " to the praise of the glory of His grace " to 
make them known. 

The songs of which this little volume is com- 
posed, were mostly written during the last few 
weeks of the earthly life of such a saint of God. 
The emotions to which they give utterance, how- 
ever, were nothing new in her experience. For 
many years her lot, though marked by many and 
peculiar blessings, had been also one of peculiar 
suffering and many trials, through which, long be- 
fore the end, she learned to walk — not simply sub- 
missive to her dear Lord's will, but gladly, rejoic- 
ing, glorying even in infirmity. It was no new 
thing for her to sing in the night season a song of 
her Beloved, nor to talk of His faithfulness all the 
day long. Those v/ho knew her most intimately 
will most unhesitatingly testify to the truth of her 
own declaration, — 

*' I have long lived in the glory, 
Fadeless, ineffable, bright," 

of His countenance, and of the land of which He 
is the light. 

Of a naturally delicate constitutiou, the provi- 



JNTRODUCrORY SKETCH. y 

dence of God — mysterious to others, yet never 
questioned by her— placed her in circumstances 
where its utmost strength was tried and finally 
exhausted. From a child instructed in the Scrip- 
tures, and so early made wise unto salvation 
through faith that is in Jesus Christ, that she 
could never remember the time when she did not 
love Him, her naturally ardent and even enthusi- 
astic temperament, fired with love and zeal tor 
Him, was constantly urging her to do something, 
und something worthy, for Him who had done so 
much for her. Wherever and whenever it was 
possible, the strength she had was freely given to 
His service. Even risks that would appall many 
a heart, and sacrifices from which most would 
shrink, were gladly accepted by her that she 
might do what she could to glorify her Lord, and 
lead others also to know and taste the riches of 
His grace. For a short time, in youth, she took 
great delight in teaching in the Sabbath-school, as 
also at long intervals and for brief periods in later 
years. 

During the earlier portions of her married life, 
her husband was connected with the United 
States Army as Assistant Surgeon, in the hospitals 



vi INTRODUCTORY S A' ETCH. 

at Washington, and in the frontier posts of New 
Mexico. On one occasion, the miserable remnant 
of a little company of emigrants was brought by 
soldiers into Fort Union — the fort of which her 
husband was then- surgeon-in-charge. The party 
had consisted originally of twelve persons, but was 
reduced by the ravages of small-pox to five, who 
were themselves helpless with the same disease. 
She immediately went to them, washed them, vis- 
ited them daily, seeking to guide the dying to the 
Lamb of God, and to secure the complete recov- 
ery of the rest. Those who did recover v/ ere un- 
able to comprehend why a strange and delicate 
lady should come, day after day, to perform the 
most menial offices for strangers. She all the time 
rejoiced that the Lord had given her this oppor- 
tunity to honor Him, by visiting the sick and point- 
ing the eyes of the dying to His cross. 

Yet even the ordinary avenues and opportuni- 
ties of service, so freely open to others, were, for 
the greater part of her life, closed to her. The 
Lord had appointed for her another — and what 
she felt increasingly to be a higher service, one in 
which she came to take great delight — the service 
of suffering. That service began early and lasted 



IN TR OD UC TOR ] ' SKE TCH. y i i 

to the utmost bound of her earthly life. In the 
privations and hardships of frontier life, cut off 
from society and friendship not only, but even 
from the kindly offices of woman, where those of- 
fices are most needed and most grateful ; under the 
loss of two infant sons, successively born to her 
in her exile, and gladdening her heart for a brief 
space, and then taking their flight to Him who 
gave them ; through months and years of weary 
and distressing sickness, which confined her for 
months together to a couch of sleeplessness and 
pain — sickness and pain so unbroken, that in her 
last illness, she declared that for fifteen years she 
had not known what it was to be free from suffer- 
ing or enjoy a restful night; under painful and 
protracted medical and surgical treatment of the 
severest character ; under all these and more, her 
constant testimony was, " I can do all things 
through Christ which strengtheneth me." So 
strengthened, she manifested ever the same un- 
failing patience, the same cheerful courage, the 
same joy in tribulation, the same glad acceptance 
of the lot of suffering, instead of the coveted yoke 
of service. 

With reference to these sufferings, she once said, 



viii INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

years ago, " My friends often pity me who am far 
above pity; they ought rather to envy me." Her 
courage was often the admiration of her physi- 
cians, as of all who knew her. Yet of it she said : 
" I do not bear; I cast it all on Jesus. I just say, 
' Lord, I cannot bear it ; thou must bear it for me.' 

Dr. E used to say I was brave. But it was 

not I ; I cannot stand it at all myself. My weakness 
has been my salvation." This was her joy for 
years, and increasingly, to the very end. To her, 
neither pain nor pleasure seemed to come amiss, 
nor to be preferred before the other, since in both 
she walked with Him. For pleasure was the smile 
of His countenance, and every pain a token in a 
different guise, of His faithful and exhaustless love. 
As she drew nearer to the '' half-open " door, 
through which at length she passed into His pres- 
ence, the hope of other service was laid aside. 
Even the cherished desire to serve Him with her 
pen was given up, and the wish grew, not simply 
to suffer for her Lord, but with Him. This was 
her constant desire, to know ever more of the fel- 
lowship of His sufferings. This was her comfort, 
that He was showing it to her. This was her 
prayer, that He would not cease till she had 



IN TROD UCrOR Y SKE 7 CH. ix 

learned perfectly all that He had to teach her in 
this school of grace so rare and precious. And 
this was her abounding and increasing joy, that to 
her it was thus given to offer Him a service which 
even Heaven cannot know ; for there is " no more 
death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall 
there be any more pain." 

If, therefore, this little sketch should aim espe- 
cially to preserve and present the memory of those 
later and last days, in which, in the depths of the 
" Valley of Achor," and watching the shadows on 
the " door of hope," she sang there those songs 
^iven to her, as she loved to think, by Him 
who had led her thither, it will not be won- 
dered at. Two motives, were there no others, 
would suffice to lead in that direction : firsts that 
it may appear that these " Songs of the Valley of 
Achor " are not the utterance of a mere poetic 
fervor, but of a real Christian experience ; a con- 
scious and a constant attitude of patient expecta- 
tion for the coming of her Lord. And, second^ that 
it maybe seen, " to the praise of His glory," how 
faithfully and tenderly, and how wonderfully the 
Lord, whom she trusted, fulfilled to her every word 
on which for years He had caused her to hope. 



X IN TR on UC TOR V SKE TCH. 

For thus her longing desire will be most fully 
gratified, when her '' Wonderful Jesus " is most 
fully honored in His grace to her. The words He 
spoke to her heart, are words fit to comfort the 
hearts of all His people in such places, proving, as 
they do, how by His presence and His grace the 
^weakest may be made strong to bear the heaviest 
burden ; the most impulsive, calmly and quietly 
confident in Him ; the most delicate and shrinking, 
full of joy in suffering, and gladness in the approach 
of death — " not in the least afraid," but rather 
thrilled with a rapture of delight at the thought 
of meeting her Beloved; how sickness and pain 
and sorrow may, by the same grace, be transfigured 
into a more than angelic service, and even death 
robe itself in light. 

For years she had lived in the constant con- 
viction that death might be very near. More 
than three years before the final summons came 
for which she waited, she wrote to one whom she 
loved : " Yesterday I found myself dwelling more 
than usual on the thought which is always up- 
permost with me in sickness, ' What if this sick- 
ness should be the key to unlock that door ? ' 
You know what I love to think : 



INTR OD UC TOR Y SKE TCH. xi 

" ' Death holds no more dark tr)-st ; 
There is no Death. Only a door 
Is opened, and forevermore 
The Christian is with Christ.' 

*' Dear , if I go before you, will you say a 

few words to those who come together to take a 
last look at my worn-out * dwelling-house ? ' And 
will you take for your text, ' The Master is come 
and calleth for thee ; ' or, ' Be of good comfort, 
rise, He calleth thee ' — whichever you like best. 
You would speak of the fullness of glory, of the 
unspeakable rapture of being called. You would 
tell how Jesus has been my Strength and Joy, 
through all my pilgrimage, and how He will be 
the Light and Crown of Heaven. If there is but 
one hymn sung— and I should like one — I should 
like— 

'" How sweet the name of Jesus sounds ;' 
or, 

" 'Jesus, the very thought of Thee, 
With gladness fills my breast ;' 

and if two, 

" ' There is a land of pure delight.' 

When you fulfill this request I shall be there, 
praising as I ought. Think of it ! " 

Yet this conviction, as will be seen alreadv, 



xii IN TROD UCTOR V SKE TCH. 

cast no shadow on her life, nor even gave the 
faintest tinge of an unhealthy color to the views 
she took of it. With all her soul she entered 
into its pure pleasures. The grace that wrought 
in her, heightened her joy in living and lov- 
ing, because, through every cherished object, 
and in each event, God seemed to speak to her 
and tell her of His love. " I never come into a 
room where flowers are," she said, " without feeling 
that it is a holy place ; God seems to have taken 
such special pains with each leaf." 

In every engagement or duty, even the least 
and apparently most trivial, as well as in every 
pleasure and delight, she loved to feel that her 
Lord had a part. " I never dressed myself with- 
out doing it for Jesus." 

And in the letter from which the quotation 
above was made, she wrote : '' I am very happy, 
and have everything to bind me to earth. The 
very love which makes the longing to see the 
King in His beauty so intense, says, gladly and 
sincerely, ' Thy v/ill be done.' And that very love 
and longing make the earth-life brighter, happier, 
holier." 

Perhaps it was her strong and growing desire 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCIT xiii 

that, as she felt on this subject, others might be 

brought to feel, that caused her to speak so much 

of death, even so long before her departure. Not 

seldom brought to face it very closely, as it seemed 

to her, and finding how little real power it had to 

harm a believing soul, it seemed to her a thing 

un-Christian, a thing unworthy the disciples and 

friends of Him " who hath abolished death," to 

shrink from it. It was no longer, and it could 

not be, the coming of the " King of Terrors," but 

of the returning Lord Himself, to call and carry 

home His own, whom He had loved unto the end. 

This thought will be found running through many 

of the Songs, repeating itself in them like a glad 

refrain of joyful expectation. So strong was this 

feeling, that her pleasure in her favorite hymn — 

" My faith looks up to Thee," 

was unmistakably diminished by the thought in 

the opening lines of the last stanza — 

"When death's cold sullen stream 
Shall o'er me roll." 

It seemed to her nearer the truth to sing — ' 

" Death like a narrow stream divides 
That heavenly land from ours " — 

ci narrow stream not only, but one through which 



xiv INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

her Jesus would lead her dry-shod, through the 
way He Himself had opened, into rest. 

That those she loved, and those especially who, 
through fear of death, were subject to bondage, 
might share with her this precious faith, was her 
constant desire. " If I were a minister," she 
would say, " it seems to me that I would often 
preach about dying in such a way as to show how 
happy a thing it is for a Christian." And when, 
as she came to die, she found the strength and 
peace and joy of it to be all, and more than all, she 
had anticipated, she gladly saw and even sent for 
many whose peace she had at heart, that she 
might testify and they might see the faithfulness 
of their Saviour in His grace to her. 

Yet though so fearless of dying, and made to 
feel that death in almost any form would be 
" surcease of sorrow " and relief from pain, she 
was not only kept, to the very end, from any 
shrinking from the fullest measure of pain and 
suffering the Lord might see fit to mete out to her, 
but she rejoiced in it. So long as He withheld 
not Himself He might send or withhold what He 
would, her heart was glad with exceeding and 
unfailing joy. 



INTR OD UC TOR V SKE TCH. xv 

" I feel sometimes," she writes, " as if heaven 
were begun on earth. And, indeed, if it be true 
that Christ is heaven, and heaven is Christ, it is 
heaven wherever He is. It would be utterly im- 
possible for me to tell you how He blesses me. 
He has answered my prayer, ' Say unto my soul 
I am thy salvation.' He floods my life with His 
own glory. Everything is bright in His smile. 
' The Lord will command His loving-kindness in 
the day-time, and in the night His song shall be 
with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.' 
It is literally fulfilled, so that often it is an effort 
not to obey literally the injunction, * Let them 
sing aloud upon their beds.' The rest of it I can- 
not help obeying, ' Let the saints be joyful in 
glory, and let the children of Zion be joyful in 
their King.' That is the beauty of it — it is in my 
King. I never was more sure that I was rejoic- 
ing, not in His gifts, but in Himself. For this has 
been a trying summer. I have not gained strength. 
Indeed, I think I lose ; and my pain is absolutely 
without cessation save when I sleep, and then it 
wakes me and keeps me awake. I tell you this 
only that you may imagine a little of the magni- 
tude of that grace which not only helps me to 



xvi INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

endure, but transforms here every cross into a 
crown. I can only cry, * Blessed be the Lord 
God, which daily loadeth me with benefits;' and 
'Thy marvellous loving- kindness ! ' is the con- 
stant exclamation of my heart and lips." 

And so it was. For weeks before her end, 
almost the most frequent utterance in recognition 
of some new and unexpected mercy was, " That 
was my wonderful Jesus." " My wonderful 
Jesus." "Is He not wonderful.'*" And these 
utterances, so far from being the language of ex- 
travagant and exceptional emotion, or of periods 
of peculiar and exalted feeling, only express the 
constant tenor of her joyful faith for months and 
years, which was as " absolutely without cessa- 
tion " as the pain of which she speaks. Through 
all the painful discipline, these two thoughts were 
ever uppermost : that by it He was teaching her, 
and that in it she was glorifying Him. " How can 
I do anything," she wrote, " but glor^' in infirmities, 
that the power of Christ may rest upon me } I 
have been wondering lately whether Paul could 
have written Hebrews. ' No chas-tening for the 
present seemeth to be joyous but grievous,' docs 
not chime with w^hat he says elsewhere. 'The 



IN TROD UC TOR Y SKE TCH. x vii 

fellowship of His sufferings ' is a /r^^<?/// blessed- 
ness. It needs not to await the ' afterward,' to 
show the joy and strength found therein." 

So, joyfully as well as steadfastly enduring, 
waiting with quiet submission to His will the in- 
dications of her Lord's purpose concerning her, not 
too eagerly elate, nor longing to depart, nor yet 
ever once shrinking in timidity or " earthly cling- 
ing," she went on to the end, " leaning upon her 
Beloved." 

" I am looking forward to the coming winter 
with joyous and yet awe-struck anticipations, for 
I know that I am entering upon a new term in my 
school-life, I know that the lessons set for me 
are higher, holier, more glorious, than any I have 
learned yet I know, too, that they will be harder 
to learn ; but the harder they are, the tenderer 
and more patient is my Teacher ; the more He 
helps me, the faster I learn. I think, sometimes, 
perhaps I am almost through school. I am cer- 
tainly growing weaker. I do not know how it 
will be. I do know that either way, whether He 
keeps me here, or takes me to Himself, it will be 
fullness of joy ! " 

The winter had little more than begun, when 



xviii INTRODUCTORY SIvETCH. 

she heard the welcome voice, for which she waited 
and listened day and night, 

" I have come 
To take thee home ;" 

and the long school-days were ended. 



II. 



" We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to an/^els, and to 
men." 

'T^HE end was manifestly near, and those who 
■*■ loved her, and also longed after her for the 
exceeding grace of God which was in her, were 
wont to make as frequent visits as possible to the 
chamber where she lay, and whence at last her 
freed spirit took its heavenward flight. It would 
be impossible to convey to any one who had not 
been so privileged as to see it, or scenes like this, 
where Christ displayed the riches of His grace, 
any conception of the sweet peace of that room of 
unceasing suffering, yet unclouded light. No 
shadow ever seemed to rest within it. "Are you 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xix 

not glad for me ? " was her smiling greeting, be- 
fore which sorrow could not stand, and tears and 
vain regrets seemed profanation. Her gladness 
seemed infectious, and the weak made many- 
strong, comforting them with the comforts with 
which she herself was comforted of God. 

On one such visit she described a sort of waking 
dream, in which, to use, as nearly as may be, her 
own words, " I seemed to be climbing a high 
mountain, having its summit in the glory of 
heaven. I saw many others going up, beside 
myself, or wandering on the mountain - sides. 
They seemed to have easy paths, gradually 
ascending, while the Master's hand, taking hold 
of mine, seemed to lead me directly up, — straight 
toward the summit; over rocks and precipices, 
apparently impassable, right through the woods, 
never turning aside, nor resting, nor seeking an 
easier way. I hardly knew whether to be glad or 
sorry. I could not but be glad to reach the top 
so soon, led by His hand, even \i the way was so 
hard ; but it seemed a selfish thing to go so quick- 
ly and so easily, being helped so mightily, and 
leave all the rest behind." 

The thought was suggested, that in so leading 



XX I^ TROD UCTOR Y SKE TCH. 

and lifting her to himself, the Master might in- 
tend to make her a spectacle to others ; that her 
course, made short and straight and easy by His 
grace, though over difficulties and through terrors 
that might well appall the stoutest heart without 
Him, must and would serve to encourage those 
\^ho were led in securer, but more circuitous 
paths; and as they looked on her they would 
take the assurance of the same faithful and 
Almighty care, and the same blessed and trium- 
phant end. As they gazed on her, they could 
not but look upward, and looking upward, could 
not but see more than they had seen before of 
the tender faithfulness and overcoming power of 
Christ, the Master. 

A few days afterward she Avrote, in one oi the 
very last notes from her pencil : " You gave me a 
treasure in calling my attention to that passage in 
I Cor. iv. 9. After you left I studied it. The 
margin is ''theatre.' It overwhelmed me almost, 
while it exalted me. Who thinks of the platform 
on which the actor stands, the walls within which 
he speaks, while hanging entranced upon his 
thrilling accents, his matchless genius? To be 
the theatre on which Jesus displays His wondrous 



IN TROD UCTOR Y SKE TCH. xxi 

grace and power ! What greater, higher honor can 
He give me here ? " 

In these remaining pages, a few tokens of that 
grace and power are gathered, which He displayed 
upon the theatre He had so prepared for Himself, 
during the last few weeks of her earthly life; 
weeks that can never be forgotten by those who 
were so blessed as to see with their own eyes the 
" acting " of the Master. But little has been done 
other than to thread together some of the utter- 
ances of the faith and joy that she made " touching 
(her) King," as they dropped almost unceasingly 
from her lips, till they ceased to speak to us at all. 
It will readily be seen how many of the "Songs " 
took their rise or suggestion from the incidents or 
thoughts of that time. Yet she loved to think, 
and unhesitatingly, believed, that they were not 
her own, but were given to her by the same loving 
One, who had led her into what she always loved 
to call ''The Valley of Achor." He had given 
them that she might sing there of His love, after 
He had spoken to her heart. 

On the 14th of September, 1873, she began to 
write, as she lay upon her bed, the thoughts that 
occurred to her, which she desired to leave behind 



xxil IN TROD UCTOR V SKE TCH. 

her, especially for the purpose of encouraging and 
comforting a few of her dear friends who were 
invalids, and to whom she desired that sickness 
might be made, as it had been to her, " a very 
mount of vision." " If I go before them into 
the full and perfect unfolding of the glory, it may 
perhaps cheer and help them, to read these expe- 
riences of their ' companion in tribulation, and in 
the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.' " 

After some delightful meditations on the beauty, 
the clear atmosphere, the heavenly sweetness of 
" The Valley of Achor," written upon the Sab- 
bath, Sept. 2 1 St, there follows the song beginning : 

*' No sanctuar}' songs to-day 
Fall on m}' ear." 

On Monday, 22d, " This came to me to-day;" 
and then follows the song entitled " Passion 
Flowers." 

Oct. 3. " This was given me : 

* A message from the King,'" etc. 

Oct. 4. " I was awakened this morning (or at 
least it was the first sound I heard), by a voice 
saying, ' I will shov/ her how great things she shall 
suffer for my name's sake.' It thrilled me with a 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xxiii 

questioning awe, ' What shall I be called to en- 
dure ? ' — with a reverent gratitude, ' It will be for 
Him.' I can imagine griefs that seem unbearable, 
from which heart and flesh shrink back appalled. 
But truly, even knowing that God has power to 
send anything, to take away anything that He 
chooses, still I do count all things but loss ' that I 
may know Him and the fellowship of His suffer- 
ings.' That word is so sweet — the honor, the joy 
to be His fellows, friends, companions — what can 
be too much to give for that ? 

" There are so many things of which we say, 
* Well, I cannot know it now ;' or, 'I cannot do it 
now, but I shall in Heaven.' But that fellowships 
if we do not know it here, we shall never know it. 
It is the highest class ; the deepest, loftiest, most 
delightful lesson in all our school course. And 
what will it be to graduate perfect in that 1 It is 
the lesson He loves best to teach ; being Himself 
the Teacher and the lesson. After breakfast, this 
was given to me, some promise of what the teach- 
ing shall be," — and then follows the song entitled 
" The Valley of Achor." 

When the power to write failed, the two songs 
that remained were written by other willing iin- 



xxiv INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

gers, at her dictation. Rapidly, without hesitation 
and without correction, as she herself had written 
the others, they were uttered and written as she 
uttered them, and are so printed, with the correc- 
tion of but two or three words. 

From about the 12th of October, those who were 
with her constantly began — without her knowledge 
and unobserved — to put down the "words of 
grace " she was continually speaking, with lips 
touched by Him whom she seemed even then al- 
most to see face to face. 

" The door was open a little this morning (Oct. 
14), and the sun came through the east window in 
a narrow line of light into the room, and I felt as 
if I were just getting a little glimpse of my bright 

home. Then J opened the door and the light 

poured in upon my bed. He went out into the 
other room, and it seemed as if he passed into the 
glory. So, I thought, when my Lord comes for 
me, it will be only passing from my darkened room 
into the glory ' where He dwelleth.' " 

Oct. 15. "It seems as if you must hear Jesus 
speaking to me ; it is so real, so wonderful. It is 
not always in words, but such floods of rapture — 
such a sense of His presence with and smile upon 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xxv 

me. Somehow I feel as if it must be the language 
of Heaven I hear. Oh, I am so happy ! 

'' I wish people would not pity me so. They 
think too much of my suffering. But it is not so 
much for me as for one not used to pain. And 
then my dear Lord holds me so fast, that it seems 
only a pleasure to suffer pain. It brings me al- 
ways closer and closer to him." 

Her word, after a sleepless night, was, " I have 
had such a blessed night ; Jesus talked with me all 
the time. He talks of the many mansions. I do 
not feel as if I was to go alone, nor as if angels 
were to be sent for me. I know He will come for 
me; He has said so — and He t;glls me so now." 

Some symptoms became more alarming October 
31, yet her morning greeting was : " I am so glad ; 
it is just as if J were away, and, at every sta- 
tion, he sent me a little note to say he was nearer." 

Nov. I. "I see Him all the time; even with 
my eyes open. His form robed in white, glory 
radiating from Him. I do not see His face, it is 
as if there were a veil between, and I think how 
soon He will turn and look upon me, and I shall 
see His face clearly — I see Him by my bedside ; I 
see him coming in the door !" 



xxvi IN TROD UCTOR V SKE TCH. 

In the midst of a spasm, she exclaimed : " I am 
so happy — so particularly happy!" and, after she 
was better, she said : " It seemed to me as if I 
could hear Jesus saying to me, over and over, ' My 
dear child,' in such a tender, loving voice, it filled 
my heart with rapture." 

It was told her that one of her friends had said 
that his talks with her would have a sanctifying 
influence upon him, because she had made him 
realize the power and presence of Christ more 
than he had ever done before. She replied, her 
whole face beaming : " Oh, J , is not that de- 
lightful ? it is worth more than all my pain. I would 
gladly have all my limbs paralyzed, if I could only 
be so blessed as to show others the po\yer and 
preciousness of my dear Lord Jesus." 

Nov. 4. " My sleepless nights are really my 
good nights, for then my Lord is with me and 
talks to me all the time." 

M replied, " He talks to you always, dar- 
ling, in the daytime, and we are glad to have you 
sleep at night." 

" But you know, dear M , the songs in the 

night are always the sweetest," 

O said to her, " It is hard to believe that 



IN TROD UC rOR V SKK TCH. xx vii 

you are going to die ; you look so bright and seem 
so strong." 

"Of course I do," was her joyful answer; 
" how could I be otherwise than bright, so near 
the eternal glory — and strong, so near the eternal 
strength ? " 

Again, to another : " Do I look happy ? I feel 
as if I could shout upon my bed, I am so happy. 
I hardly wonder that some Christians are afraid, 
at least feel bad to die, they seem to know so lit- 
tle of Jesus. But, I know Him so v/ell, He has 
been such a dear friend here, it seems joy to go 
with Him there where I shall know him better." 
Adding, at another time, " It must hurt Him so to 
think His children are afraid to have Him come." 

Nov. 5. "I have been thinking about the office 
of the Holy Spirit as Comforter. His work ceases 
here. If we went to Heaven without suffering, 
we could not know anything of the fellowship of 
Christ's sufferings, nor the sweet offices of the 
Comforter." 

Nov. 8- " The Communion has always been so 
much to me. I think there is so much expressed 
in the taking the emblems, of the entirety in which 
Christ gives Himself to us — eating His flesh, drink- 



xxviii IN TROD UCTOR V SKE TCB. 

ing His blood — entering into our very being. I 
was thinking of all this last night, and I thought 
if I had enjoyed such rapture here, what must it 
be there, where emblems have no place, but He 
gives Himself to us." 

Nov. 9. " I have always heard so much of the 
depressing effects of dyspepsia, that I feared it 
might make me fretful and impatient, especially as 
it was so new to me ; but my Lord is so good to 
me, that even in the most severe pain I could sing 
for very gladness, for He makes me so glad with 
His love." 

Nov. 15. " I thought to-day that perhaps I was 
selfish to be so glad to go, but He gave me a word 
for you : ' You will have Heaven, but they will 
have Jesus.' " 

The same day, she said : " Do you think He 
called me to-day His watching servant.^ and said : 
* Blessed is that servant Avhom the Lord, when He 
Cometh, shall find watching.' I wish you could 
hear Him say ' Blessed,' He makes the word so 
full of meaning, it fills my soul with rapture." 

" Do you know," she asked M , " the other in- 
terpretation of that expression, ' unspeakable words 
which is not lawful for man to utter,' is ' Xiol possi- 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xxix 

bW for Him? H once said that he thought 

one reason why there could not be communica- 
tion between heaven and earth was, that it would 
be impossible for us to understand what they who 
spoke should say to us. I am beginning to un- 
derstand how this may be, for my soul is filled 
with such wonderful things I cannot find language 
to express them. What will it be there ? " 
Nov. 1 8. She asked M to repeat 

" Ye angels who stand round the throne." 

" I do not think that is right," she added, " to 
struggle and pant to be free. It is well to long 
after the Master, but better to do His will. I 
can take pleasure in my infirmities because I 
know they come by His will." 

" How unreasonable," she said one day, " and 
how absurd to speak of Jesus as only a man, when 
* Every man that hath heard and hath learned of 
the Father, cometh unto me ' (John vi. 45 ). When 
the whole work of the Father and the Spirit is 
shown to be the revealing of the Son, ' He shall 
not speak of Himself, He shall glorify me ' (John 
xvi.13, 14). Thus it grows upon you in studying the 
Word, that this is the object of the Scripture teach- 



XXX INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

ing, to glorify Christ. So the study of the Word 
must bring us nearer to Him, make us know Him. 
'The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God;' 
' O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom 
and knowledge of God ; ' ' Christ, the power of 
God and the wisdom of God.' Is not that beauti- 
ful.? and though 'Eye hath not seen, etc., God 
hath revealed them by His Spirit : for the Spirit 
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' 
' All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in 
Him, amen.' Whenever you begin to study the 
Bible, no matter what the subject is, you always 
end in Christ. I never thought of that word 
' depths ' so much before. ' The Spirit searcheth 
the depths. In Him are hid all the treasures of 
wisdom and knowledge.' That is 77iy Redeemer, 
and ' His name shall be called Wonderful' " 

It was by that Name she loved to speak of 
Him. It was ever on her lips, " My wonderful 
Jesus.'' " I think," she said, " that is almost the 
best of His many beautiful names, He is such a 
wonderful, wonderful Lord;" and when asked 
one time for a last message for a dear absent 
friend, her reply was, " What better word could I 
give her than, my wonderful Jesus." 



IN TROD UC TOR V SKE TCH. xxxi 

She commenced quoting, " All things are yours, 

whether Paul " — As she stopped there, A 

added, " or ApoUos," etc. " No," she said, 
" *" whether Paul ' — I love to stop there ; the Lord 
showed Paul that His grace was sufficient, so I 
learned of him ; Paul's experience is mine, Paul is 
rnine." 

To M , who was brushing her hair to soothe 

the pain, sh^said : " When He comes for me, He'll 
brush by you." And on M 's saying, " I can- 
not do anything when you talk so, you mustn't 
think I am too brave," she added : " Why, I 
thought it would make you brave to think of His 
seamless robe touching you." 

For weeks she had been able to take scarcely 
any nourishment, but at last the pain and vomit- 
ing grew so distressing, that it was impossible for 
her to take anything, so that from the twentieth 
of November, until the day the Master came for 
her, she lived without food. 

When the pain first became so much more 
severe, she looked up and smiled, and said, "It's 
my wonderful Jesus. I am tossed on waves and 
billows, and He has put forth His hand and lifted 
me on heights above them all." Again a smile, 



xxxii INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

and " I said, ' My dear Lord,' and He said, * My 
dear child.' Oh, I'm so happy ! " 

J brought a spray of white begonias. "' My 

wonderful Jesus sends me here a little note to 
remind me of the white robes and crowns of 
glory." 

During the evening of Wednesday of that week, 
we watched beside her, thinking each moment 
would be the last on earth. At times her pulse 
ceased altogether, and the " beloved physician " 
said many times, " He will soon be here." 

" If this is dying, tell Mrs. M and all of them, 

that it is more beautiful than even 1 thought it 
w^as. ' His left hand is under my head ; His right 
hand doth embrace me.' He holds me so close." 
Again, " I thought that perhaps, after all, I might 
feel a little shrinking from death at the last, but 
there is none. I am so glad, so happy, so peaceful." 

Once and again she said, " I hope my last 
word will be Jesus, my wonderful Jesus." 

Often she asked, " Will He soon be here ? " 

And once, when we almost thought her gone, 
she said v/ith clear, strong voice, " Now is brought 
to pass the saying that is written, death is swal- 
lowed up in victory." 



IN TROD UCTOR Y SKE TCH. xxxiii 

But the Master tarried. Again on Friday and 
Saturday, we watched beside her for His coming, 
but still He delayed. 

When, on that Sabbath morning, her pulse 

came back as before, she said to J , on whose 

breast she leaned, with tears of disappointment, 
but a smile as well, " Put me down to bear." 

H said, to comfort, " My grace is sufficient 

for thee." 

Scarce able to speak, she whispered, " Most 
gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in infirmities, 
that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 

Afterward she said, " I knew He was not com- 
ing for me, for He told me the sweetest thing the 
saints did in heaven, was His will." And a little 
later, " The Lord asked me whether I was willing 
to return to live and suffer more, write more, talk 
more for Him. What could I say but ' Yes .? ' 
But I felt much as I suppose Elijah would have 
felt, if, when he had got half way up to heaven, he 
had been thrown out of the chariot back to earth. 
Still His will is best, yes indeed, and sweetest." 

That same day she asked H , " Do you not 

think I might say a Utile that I have fought a 
good fight .^" 



Xxxiv IN TROD UCTOR Y SKE TCH. 

" I think you might say it a good deal, say it 
entirely," he replied. 

" I will then, and it has been all for Jesus. Oh, 
I am so happy ! " 

" You know, dear," she said the next morning, 
" in a school most of the pupils have favorite 
studies, and mine has always been ' the fellow- 
ship of His suiferings,' and I want to graduate per- 
fect." 

A little while aftenvards, she said: "When 
F said to me that I might stay till Thanks- 
giving Day, it seemed to me as if I could not bear 
it; but my dear Lord began to talk with me, and 
He has made me willing to wait. How good He 
is ! that is always the way ; as soon as anything 
troubles me, He comes and talks with me, and 
makes it all plain, and easy, and bright. If there 
is one verse in the Bible I do believe from my own 
experience, it is, ' I will manifest myself unto 
Him.' " 

One day she said to M , " Satan showed me 

just the tip of his tail this morning. He told me 
that perhaps all this joy and peace, and this talk- 
ing with Jesus, Avas the effect of my imagination, 
and was not real." 



I.V TROD UC TOR Y SKE TCII. xxxv 

" And what did you say to him ? " 

'^ I did not say anything ; I would not answer 
him. I answered him for the last time several 
weeks ago. I just said 'Jesus,' and He said, 
' Leave her alone ; she is mine ' — and now I am 
sure he will not trouble me again." 

At another time she asked, " Is it wrong for 
me to say that ' I have meat to eat that ye know 
not of? He surely does feed me; for, when the 
hunger comes and I call to Him to help. He gives 
me some word of His that does really take it away, 
for it feeds my soul so fully." 

Her friends dreaded the return of the convul- 
sions, which v/ere so distressing to bear and to 

witness. Turning to T , she said: "If he 

sends me another convulsion, don't you mind ; it 
will be in love,, just like all the rest." 

Nov. 25. She asked: "Do you not think that 
this is a very hard death to die ? I am so glad you 
do; for it shows His power and grace so much 
more, so that none may say it was easy to bear. 
It is so sweet to be made use of, to show His grace 
and power to sustain. It is sweet pain; I am glad 
to suffer a little more for Him." 

After reading the verse, " If any man's work 



xxxvi INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

abide, he shall receive a reward," A asked, 

"What would be the reward you would ask, 
dear ? " 

" If He will only say, ' Thank you, dear child.' " 
" How beautiful it has all been — the pain and 
the suffering, as well as the peace." 

Nov. 26. After a sleepless night of intense suf- 
fering, she asked : " Shall I tell you a lovely con- 
versation .? " 

" Lord, I am so weak, I cannot bear it ; give me 
some help." 

" Let him take hold of My strength." 
" But, Lord, I am too weak to take hold of it ; 
give me something else." 

" Underneath are the everlasting Arms." 
" Lord, dost Thou really love me } " 
" I have loved thee with an everlasting love. As 
the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you ; 
let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be 
afraid." 

As the day wore away, she said : " I felt so 

badly when F said I should- probably be here 

on Thanksgiving Day, but I do not feel so now. 
If I am here, I shall offer perhaps the most heart- 
felt thanksgiving of any one in this place." 



IN TROD UCTOR V SA'E TCH. xxxvii 

It was indeed true, as her last Song, a " Thanks- 
giving Hymn," dictated without hesitation on that 
morning, clearly shows. Her wonderful peace 

called forth from M , " My precious, patient 

sufferer." 

" I am not patient." 

" What are you, then .? " 

" I am joyous. I do not bear; it is all borne 
for me. You know what Faber says : 

" ' And that which is unbearable, 
Is Thine, not mine, to bear.' " 

But as the agonizing pain, and hunger, and 
thirst, and, above all, the intense weariness and 
painful weakness grew even greater, she learned to 
love the word, patience. Thus, on December 3, 
she said, " I am only patient and peaceful to-day ; 
I have not strength to be joyful." And later, 
" Do you know what I think is the sweetest thing 
in the world .'* Patience ! It is so sweet to lie 
still, and wish nothing but His will." 

In the night of the 29th of November, which, 
like most of the others, was entirely sleepless, 
during an hour of special pain, she said, " I could 
not bear it if Jesus did not bear it with me. If 



X cxviii IN TROD UCTOR V SKE TCH. 

God spared not His own Son, He surely will not 
spare what is necessary to refine me. He will 
help and strengthen me to the end. If I am too 
weak to tell you so, you must be sure that I am 
peaceful, and joyfully waiting for Jesus to come 
and take me with Him where He is." 

The day before she had said, " I think I am 
losing the control of my mind. I am just as 
happy, just as peaceful, just as willing to wait as 
ever ; but I cannot control my thoughts. I will 
begin to think of some text, and in a few minutes I 
will run off to something to eat — think how nice a 
piece of steak would taste. I know it is not my 
spirit, but this morning I felt as if my body could 
not bear it any longer, but I know He will help 
me to the end. Only think, if it causes you all so 
much pain to see me suffer, how much more it 
would pain Him, if He could not see so plainly 
the beautiful end! He could not fan the furnace 
flame, if He did not expect to see the soul coming 
out of the fires purified. There is so much love in 
sitting as a refiner till the purification is accom- 
plished, I do thank Him for it." 

Her love for flowers, so strongly exhibited in 
some of her " Songs," was manifested all through 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xxxix 

her sickness. And through the kindness of 
friends, she was never a day without them. " I 
think my Lord is so good to send me so many 
flowers just now, when I cannot eat, for I feed 
upon them — their beauty and fragrance. I 
am sure there must be flowers in heaven, for He 
likens Himself to them — the lily, and the rose — 
and you know He says, ' He feedeth among the 
lilies.' Was it not good in Jesus to put it into 

Mrs. C 's heart to send me these.'* You see 

He knows how I love them." And again, with 
tears in her eyes, " It was so good in the Lord to 
send me that Daphne to-day." 

During all her sickness, she had been unwilling 
to resort to any remedy that would cause uncon- 
sciousness, having a desire, as she said, to bear every 
pain her dear Lord sent, and to meet Him at His 
coming with body as well as soul, expectant and 
conscious. Her physicians and friends, however, 
were pursuaded that she ought to use the means 
of relief which God had made, and at last, taking 
their wishes as the expression of God's will, she 
consented, and from the 5th of December, she 
was kept most of the time under the influence of 
anaesthetics. Through some peculiarity of the 



xl INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

disease, however, though large doses were admin- 
istered, the effect was much of the time partial. 
They seemed most of the time, however, to lull 
the pain, and brought her many hours of refresh- 
ing sleep, but always, on waking, her mind was as 
clear as ever. 

In speaking of this, she said, " You see I trusted 
in the Lord, and He did bring it to pass. Isn't 
He lovely, altogether lovely ? I have had such a 

lovely night. I think, dear M , you will 

always remember this night with pleasure. Isn't 
it wonderful how my dear Lord has made the 
morphia act, controlling the pain perfectly, and 
yet leaving my mind clear .? It is all my wonder- 
ful Jesus, He is so good. 

" I wish I could tell you a little of what is pour- 
ing into my heart — such beauty, such glory. It is 
wonderful. 

*' My wonderful Jesus has been so good to me." 

Then, after a little pause, " I can just feel him, 

dear M , gather me up and hold me close to 

His breast." 

And again, " I can tell you one thing ; there's 
always Jesus." 

" Poor child ! " A said that day. 



IN TROD UCrOR V SR'E TCII. xli 

"No; happy, blessed chWd,'' she replied. 

" Does He still talk to you ? " 

" All the time, and He tells me such beautiful 
things of the joys before me, and how He will 
comfort you." 

*' He keeps me here to learn a little more of 
the sweet lesson that can be only learned on 
earth — the lesson I love to learn — ' The fellow- 
ship of His sufferings.' " 

The next morning she said : "Another day of 
my weakness and my Saviour's power. Don't be 
afraid ; I shall have great strength given me ; I 
am not afraid." 

As the pain returned with increased vigor, she 
said : " The furnace is heated seven times hotter, 
but the Son of Man is in it." 

Again and again would she ask, " Have I been 
patient } " And, upon receiving the assurance 
that she had, would invariably add, " My dear, 
wonderful Jesus, He has been so merciful ; " or, 
" It was all for His Name's sake." Everything 
seemed to remind her of Him. Once, when I was 
bathing her hands, she said, "All my springs are 
in Thee." 

S alluded to her having given him Mrs. 



xlii IN TROD UC TOR V SKE TCH. 

Browning's poem, " He giveth His beloved sleep." 
" I want you all to remember that," she said, " I 
have suffered so terribly froni want of sleep." 

Dec. 8. She commenced to repeat — "They 
shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; for 
the Lamb " — she paused, and M finished it. 

" How sweet it will be to be there ! I do want 
to go so much." 

" Then why," asked M , " do you not ask 

Him, darling, to come for you 1 " 

" I don't want to; He will come as soon as He 
is ready." 

" But, perhaps. He waits to have you ask Him 1 " 

" No, He does not. I have said to Him, ' ail 
things are possible to him that believeth,' and He 
knows." 

That nightj between twelve and one, she said : 
" The only thing I can do, is trust in Jesus. I am 
so weak, I can't trust in anything or anybody 
else — only in Jesus." Later, she added, " I am 
so thankful I have not got to get ready to die. 
So ready, so trustful, so happy and blessed ! " And 
the next morning, " Suppose I had to feel around 
for something to cling to now ! " 

Dec. lo, 3 P.M. "There is one thing you 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xliii 

haven't understood, and perhaps I did not under- 
stand myself. You have all thought I have had 
more than I could bear; but with so much that 
has seemed unbearable, has always come the 
sense of His sweetness and love, which was itself 
unbearable. But now 1 am going where I shall 
be able to bear it all, and more." 

During a short waking interval, she exclaimed, 
" I realize fully ' no separation ; ' I believe it 
utterly!" And again, " Oh ! I never saw it so 
plain before; He endured all His passion that we 
might never sorrow more ! 

Dec. lo, 5:30 P.M. "I wish I could tell you 
how shaken and how firm, how wretched and how 
triumphant I am." 

Thursday morning, Dec. 11. Pushing away 

the chloroform, as J was about to administer 

it, she said, " Wait ; there are two things that 
remain as intense as ever— my love for you all, 
and my love for Jesus." 

That afternoon we " watched the door unclose 
at last." Thus was her longing fulfilled, that her 
last word on earth should be " Jesus," as doubt- 
less it was her first in heaven. 



xliv INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 



III. 

"Sanctify them through Thy truth : Thy word is truth." 

^HE sources of such a life are not far to seek. 
It will be readily believed that they are not 



1 



found in mere liveliness of emotion or sensibility, 
nor yet in peculiarities of natural temperament or 
mental constitution. No doubt we may trace the 
influence of a peculiarly ardent and affectionate 
nature, and a strong and brilliant fancy ; yet her 
own heart assured her of that to which every spir- 
itual judgment will assent, that the spring from 
which her life was drawn lay deeper than all these, 
and was infinitely fuller — was, indeed, "hid with 
Christ in God." 

" It pains me so much to have people tell me 
that it is my natural disposition to be patient, and 
to prefer God's will to my own. It seems so much 
like withholding the glory from God, for I am so 
sure that it is not my disposition, and that it is 
nothing but God's grace given to me. 

" You know how impatient I always used to be. 



IN TROD UCTOR Y SKE TCH. xlv 

I do not mean irritable — for I know I was not that 
— but in anything in which I was interested, I was 
always so impatient to do or to have done. And 
I always did like so much to have my own way. 
And now I see how much this was my fault, and 
how much trouble and anxiety I used to give you 

and dear F by this trait in my character — this 

fault. And I want you to promise me that when 
you hear people say that it was my disposition, you 
will tell them how it was; I do so want the grace 
of God to be magnified." So truly had she learned 
to say and feel, "All my springs are in Thee." 

Had she not sought and obtained access to that 
fountain of life and grace, the very ardor of her 
natural impulses and affections, and the keenness 
of her sensibilities, which afforded such a field for 
the display of her Redeemer's power, would have 
made her shrink from the very things in which she 
gloried and rejoiced most heartily, the fellowship 
of his^ sufferings, the cross of pain and sorrow, the 
pangs of earthly separa'tions, the slow, sure, pain- 
ful approach of death. All things to her, and in 
her, were of God in Christ. As she had learned 
to know Him in His Word, so, receiving that Word 
with the simple faith of a little child, without a 



xlvi INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 

question, she found him in the inner teaching of 
His Holy Spirit and the experience of her heart 
and life. .The searching study of His Word was, 
therefore, both her strength and her delight — her 
almost constant occupation. And this it was that 
gave to her a breadth and clearness of spiritual 
vision, and a vigor of understanding, that were the 
admiration of not a few whose duty and privilege 
it had been for years to study and minister the gos- 
pel of the grace of God. It was no infrequent thing 
for her to suggest new connections in Scripture 
passages, through the discovered presence of 
Christ in them all ; or to delight her friends, in 
conversation or correspondence, by some happy 
illustration from the Word ; by some new and 
forcible interpretation or application of a familiar 
passage ; by bringing to light some familiar and 
precious truth, as it had lain buried and unsus- 
pected in less familiar and less studied portions of 
the Bible ; or by the clearness of her conceptions 
and the simple power of her faith, giving new life 
and meaning, a new aspect of reality, to that 
which was old and known, but not more than half 
believed or understood. It was especially her 
delight to find and show Christ as revealed in the 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. xlvii 

Old Testament, and for a long period she studied 
with absorbing interest the second chapter of 
Hosea, from which many of her favorite express- 
ions are drawn, and in which she loved to find an 
epitome of all His gracious dealings with His 
people and with her. 

Hence it was not difficult to see, and she her- 
self felt most strongly, that whatever fruits of 
sanctifying grace were wrought in her, they were 
wrought " through the truth." And her desire 
was strong, that since the same truth, and the 
same sanctifying spirit, were offered and open 
freely to all, the same knowledge and grace might 
be more heartily sought and more generally pos- 
sessed by the disciples of Christ our Lord. 

" I want some one," she said, " to tell at my fu- 
neral, that in order to have such joy as mine upon 
a dying bed, there must be first an absolute giving 
oneself up to Christ, and second^ an earnest, dili- 
gent study of His Word, that he may be known 
more perfectly. I know that mine is a rare expe- 
rience. I cannot help knowing it. But I also 
know that it need not be. The Lord is just as 
ready to give it to all His people as to me, if they 
will only desire and seek it. 



Xlviii IN TROD UCTOR Y SKE TCH. 

"People speak to me as if this peace and joy 
were a special and unusual gift. It pains me to 
have them say sOy for I am sure it is open to all 
who desire it. I think the reason of my being now 
more joyful and peaceful, is that I have studied 
my Bible faithfully, and there I have learned to 
know Jesus so well. And then, as I studied, it 
never entered into my mind not to believe all He 
said. And He does fulfill all that He promises." 

Is there any other philosophy of the Christian 
life than this? 

The Master whom she so learned to know and 
trust and love, could have wrought no more pre- 
cious and worthy work by means of her life, and 
all His dealings with her, and her peaceful and 
triumphant death, nor any that would more com- 
pletely accord with her own longing desire, or fill 
her soul with joy to overflowing, than that some 
souls should be encouraged to seek and cherish the 
like precious faith, and be enabled to reap the 
same precious fruits of knowledge, joy and peace. 



''§ctc is t\)t :patictice of t1)c saint©; Ijete are 
tlicg tljat keep tl]c commanbments of (3oli aiib 
tl)e faitij of Jt^sus/' 



SONGS IN 
THE VALLEY OF ACHOR. 



THE VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Hos. 2 ; 15. Is, 65 : 10. 

It looked so dark to me, when first 

I entered the dread valley, 
But soon ujxin my vision burst 
A green and shaded alley, 
That shone and brightened more and more 
Until it reached a shining Door. 

And glory from that Door was shed, 

And struggled with the shadow, 
And shone soft on a path that led 
Into a smiling meadow, 
Where weary flocks and herds did lie, 
Folded beneath the Shepherd's eye. 

And vineyards there I saw, and fruit 
That grew in shady bowers. 



SOA^GS IN THE 

And grand old trees, and every root 
Was hidden deep in flowers ; 
And oh ! the air was soft, and sweet, 
And bahny, in that cool retreat. 

And here and there, among the rocks, 

There were green resting places ; 
There was no sound of strife or shocks, 
No rush of troubled faces ; 
I could hear nothing but that Voice 
That sweetly cried, " Rejoice, rejoice." 

I did rejoice, for there I found, 

In closest, holiest union, 
My soul's Beloved ; and not a sound 
To break that blessed communion 
Was there. My soul lay on his breast, 
In perfect calm, in Heavenly rest. 

He plucked the clustering grapes, and said 

" These are for thee, beloved, 
Into this valley I have led 

Thy steps ; thou now hast proved 
My truth. When forth thou go'st with Me 
Thou shalt take ^ vineyards ' rich with thee.'* 

2 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

He taught me songs of joyous love, 

Of grateful adoration ; 
Naught had before availed to move 
To such high jubilation 
My soul, that now so tried and strong, 
Rested in Him Who was my song. 

He led me through the shining Door, 

And up to Mounts of Vision ; 
My eyes enraptured wandered o'er 
The glorious scene elysian ; 
I could not bear the rapture long. 
But He on whom I leaned was strong. 

He told me there, in accents sweet, 

A wondrous thrilling story, 
The while I worshipped at His feet ; 
He promised me such glory. 
One day upon my eyes should shine, 
As now would break this heart of mine. 

As yet, I ne'er had seen His face ; 

Then it should shine upon me ; 
He'd come again, oh, matchless grace ! 

With His own hand to crown me. 
3 



SONGS IN THE 

" Wait patiently, a little space," 

He said, " then thou shalt see my face." 

I linger in the valley yet, 

By my dear Jesus tended. 
Sheltered from all life's care and fret, 
And when the way is ended. 
Trusting the promise of His grace, 
I know that I " shall see His face." 



WATCHING AND WAITING. 

Luke 12 : 36. 

I AM watching for the coming 

Of my dear, my absent Lord, 
I am hearkening for His footstep, 

I am listening for His word. 
Eagerly longing and waiting 

For Him to take me home, 
Crying with every heart-beat, 

" Come, Lord Jesus ! Come ! " 

I have been so long expecting ; 

I have watched thro' many a night ; 
4 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

He lingers, oh, He lingers ! 

Shall I never have the sight 
For which my eyes are aching, 

Of that tender, loving face, 
Of those eyes so full of beauty, 

Of that smile so full of grace ? 

Thro' all life's many changes 

He has walked along with me, 
He has turned the thorns to roses, 

He has calmed the raging sea, 
He has shone through deepest darkness. 

He has sheltered me from harm, 
And always when I was weary 

Upheld me with His arm. 

Often and often in sorrow, 

When earthly light was dim, 
I have walked in a heavenly radiance, 

And knew that it came from Him. 
When my dear ones have vanished from me, 

He has made me ever rejoice. 
For He thrilled my soul with rapture 

By the tones of His tender voice. 
5 



SONGS IN THE 

Thro' hours of wasting sickness 

He has watched beside my bed, 
He has soothed the restless anguish, 

He has pillowed my weary head ; 
Pillowed it soft and closely 

On his mighty, loving breast ; 
Soothed me like tenderest mother, 

And lulled me to perfect rest. 

In sleepless hours of darkness, 

When no loving one was near, 
I have heard that tenderest whisper, 

" Fear nothing, I am here !" 
And then He would sit beside me 

And from out that loving Heart, 
Would pour on me such a blessing 

As no words could e'er impart. 

And every day He grew dearer. 
Each hour revealed new grace, 

I felt Him and heard him each moment. 
But I could not see his face ; 

And I longed with a speechless longing 
For that soul-entrancing sight, 
6 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

The sight of His perfect beauty, 
Of His gentle, matchless might. 

But He answered my ardent longing 

With " Wait a little while ; 
Soon thou shalt see My beauty, 

Soon thou shalt see My smile. 
Wait and watch for thy Master, 

Morning, and night and noon. 
For truly, oh, longing spirit ! 

I will come unto thee soon." 

So I'm waiting, watching and longing ; 

Will He never, never come .? 
I am getting more and more weary. 

And longing more for home. 
But 'tis Him above all that I long for, 

Only to look on His face, 
Only to touch His garment, 

Only to know His grace. 

As I never can know till I see Him; 

To feel His hand on mine, 
To hear in His voice the fondness, 

To see in His eyes the shine 
7 



SOA'GS IN THE 

Of the love that knows no measure, 
A sea without a shore ; 

And to know that the sight of that beauty- 
Shall be mine forever more. 

But He's coming, He said he was coming ! 

I shall surely see Him soon ; 
And I listen to hear His footfall, 

Morning and night and noon ; 
I shall hear the first sound of his knocking, 

I shall run and open to Him, 
And He'll fill my cup of rejoicing 

Full to the very brim. 

He said He should come from the wedding 

In festal garments clad. 
All sorrow shall flee from His presence, 

He will make my spirit glad ; 
I know there are wondrous treasures 

Laid up for me by His grace ; 
But this joy surpasses all others, 

That I shall see His face ! 

August^ 1873. 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 



WHOSE HOUSE ARE WE? 

Psalms 4 : 7. 

No sanctuary songs to-day 

Fall on my ear, 
Yet in a holy place I pray, 

For God is here ! 

No human accents, low in prayer, 
Or high in praise. 

Are heard within this chamber fair 
Full many days. 

My ear has missed the sweet accord 
Of chanting choirs ; 

Alone, to my most glorious Lord, 
My heart aspires 

With joyous trust, and eager faith, 

And ardent love, 
Making a Sabbath service here 

Like that above. 
9 



SOA'GS IN THE 

Sight more than faith, and praise than prayer, 

Fill my glad breast ; 
My eyes uplifted see Him ihere^ 

And when they rest 

Within my room, I see Him here 

Beside my bed, 
And His bright " candle," pure and clear, 

Shines on my head. 

He pours His glory on my way ; 

No shade can dim 
The splendors of the perfect day 

That beams from Him. 

These lovely flowers from His hand, 
Chime, like sweet bells, 

A clear refrain ; each fragrant breath 
His glory tells. 

Upon my soul. Heaven's joy and peace 

Pour in full tides. 
Making a temple of the place 

Where Christ abides. 

Sunday, Sept. 21st. 

10 



VALLEY OF ACILOR, 



PASSION FLOWERS. 



Oh, fair and mystical flowers ! 

You seem like a thing apart 
From the rest of the flower-creation ; 

As from you steals into my heart, 

Like a strain of sacred music, 

The refrain of the thrilling word : 

" Always bearing about in the body 
The dying of the Lord." 

You are marked with the cross of Jesus, 
And the signs of His passion deep ; 

The cruel nails, the crown of thorns. 
You in tender pity keep. 

What a linking of sorrow with beauty ! 

The Cross, with its story so sad. 
Stands forth on these delicate flowers. 

And as we gaze, we are glad ; 

For the Cross is our joy and glory, 
The pledge of our Saviour's love, 

The " infusion of heavenly sweetness " here, 
And the guide to a crown above. 
II 



SOJVGS /AT THE 

And though now we see not the glory, 
Yet through all earth's pain and loss, 

We know that our lives are made holy, 
And signed with the blessed Cross. 

And we pray, as we watch you, sweet flowers, 
That deep in our inmost hearts, 

We may treasure the holy lesson 
That your beauty strange imparts ; 

That the Christian's badge of honor 

Is the bearing of the Cross, 
That to suffer with the Master 

Is the richest gain, not loss ; 

That the soul is crowned, transfigured 

With a glory full and free; 
That ever with love remembers 

Jesus has died for me ; 

That that life is blessed and saintly 

That fulfills the sacred word, 
" Always bearing about in the body 

The dying of the Lord." 

Monday, Sept. -zid. 

12 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

WE ARE A SPECTACLE (THEATRE) UNTO 
THE WORLD." 

A MESSAGE from the King ! 
" Prepare a place for Me, 
I am coming to honor thee. 
What wilt thou ? that I bring 
A ro)^al suite of pomp and glory, 
That shall live and shine in song and story ? 
Or shall I come with no sign to show 
Who it is that honors thee so 1 

Come as a friend to a friend .'*" 

Come as Thou wilt, my King ! 

Who am I to choose 

The measure of state Thou shalt use ? 
I care not what Thou dost bring, 

So that Thyself I see, 

So that Thou comest to me. 

Thy words have often come 

Like angels to my home. 

Now do Thou come, not send. 

An answer from the King ! 

" I will come, and show forth my grace ; 
13 



SONGS IN THE 

I will glorify the place 
Which thou hast prepared. I will bring 
My garments of purest white, 
My robes of heavenly light. 
But wilt thou yield all to Me 1 
Wilt thou be content to see 
My glory, not thine own V 

Thy glory, oh, my King \ 

Is what I so long to see. 

How can it ever be 
That Thou wilt come ! I will sing 

To Thee such songs of praise. 

As a loving heart can raise, 

When it longs, with a longing too deep 

For words to tell, to steep 
Itself in Thy glory above. 

A message from the King [ 

" I will come, oh, waiting heart ! 
I will come, and a wondrous part 

I will act in thee. I shall bring 
Sharp tools, and shall cut and hew, 
For the stage must be straight and true 
On which I act My part : 
14 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Canst thou bear, oh, waiting heart, 
That I should come thus to thee V 



I *can bear it all, my King ! 

For wilt not Thou be here ? 

What room is there for fear 
In Thy presence ? Still I will sing, 

Though Thou cut and hew and tear ; 

For well I know that where 

Thou art, there is peace. Oh, stay 

No longer, but come, I pray ! 
Oh, hasten and come to me ! 

" I am coming, I, thy King ! 
I am coming to act in thee ; 
My glory thou shalt see. 
And I know that thy heart will sing. 
For though I wound, I heal ; 
And when thou art faint thou shalt feel 
Around thee My tender embrace ; 
Thou shalt know that My matchless grace 
Is shining forth in thee. 

" I will dwell with thee, I, thy King ! 

I'll perfect in thy weakness My strength •, 
15 



SO.VGS IN THE 

In thy need I will help, and at length, 
Iii the midst of thy pain thou shalt sing, 
For My smile shall be ever light, 
It shall shine in the depth of the night; 
I will use thee to show forth My praise, 
And men shall adore as they gaze, 
And ascribe all the glory to Me.'* 

October 31/. 



"TO KNOW HIM AND THE FELLOWSHIP 
OF HIS SUFFERINGS." 

A LONELY path, did you say, my friend } 

Ah 1 that it is not, not ever ; 
It is thorny often, and sometimes dark, 

But it is lonely, never. 
For close beside me in deepest night, * 

Making even the shadows bright. 

Is ever my loving Jesus. 

When clouds are thick, and the storm winds blow. 
Through the uproar I hear Him speaking, 

" Lean on me, child, I will shelter thee ; 
Remember the tempest is wreaking 

Its fury not only on thee, but on Me, 
16 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

For I am bearing it all with thee;" 
Oh, tender, loving Jesus ! 



When the night is dark, and the way is strange, 
And I see not a hand-breadth before me, 

He leads me along, and I feel with a thrill, 
That His banner of love is o'er me. 

" Cling close," He cries, " and fear no more, 

'Tis the way I have trodden for thee before, 
Thy suffering Brother Jesus." 

And w4ien my heart is torn with grief, 

And my tears are wildly falling 
Over some precious, speechless form, 

Vainly for answer calling ; 
Then plainly I hear that voice benign^ 
" Take courage, sad heart, for thy grief is Mine, 

I am suffering with Thee, Jesus." 



And oh, I have learned to know Him well 
In these quiet " desert places," 

And every hour He shows to me 
More clearly His matchless graces; 
17 



SO.VGS IN THE 

So that I cry, in my calm retreat, 

Truly the " fellowship " is sweety 

" Of the sufferings " of Jesus ! 

And so you see^ with this precious Friend 

I can be lonely never. 
Though trials come, and fierce winds blow, 

He is beside me, and ever 
AVith tenderest soothing in His strong arms 
He bears me above all earthly harms, 

My strong and loving Jesus ! 

And I always think when I hear it said, 
" How sweet to the sufferer is heaven,'* 

That it will not be for the perfect rest 
That I know will there be given, 

That 'twill be so sweet for me to go ; 

But because IVe learned so well to know 
My dear, my precious Jesus? 

Octoher 13,//^. 



18 



VALLEY OF A CLIO R. 

SHADOWS ON THE DOOR. 

The door of my room is half open, 

And over it, come and go 
Shadows of those in the other room, 

Who are passing to and fro. 

The door of my life is half open, 

And upon it I constantly see 
The shadow of my dearest Lord, 

Who is coming soon for me. 

I love to watch His shadow. 

So dear, so full of grace ; 
But what will it be when He really comes, 

And I see His lovely face ! 

He will enter through the doorway ; 

Oh, glad, oh, sweet surprise ! 
And shadows shall die in the cloudless light, 

That beams from his loving eyes. 

October ia^/i. 



19 



SONGS IN THE 



TWO ROSES 



Oh, lovely rose ! Gift from His hand, 
Who fashioned all beauty, Who made all sweetness 
Gazing on thee, in thy fair completeness, 
Bright fancies steal 
Into ray soul, 
And over me roll 
In a flood of beauty, and I feel 
That clear and sweet as the voice of an angel, 
Is thy voice, God's beautiful evangel ; 
Telling His power, telling His love. 
Sweet messages from His home above. 
And from out thy closed heart of living bloom, 
Thy rich perfume 
Floods all the room. 
Wraps my charmed senses in delight; 
And as I watch thy beauty bright, 
Lovingly gazing, I seem to see 
God's fingers unfolding it for me. 

In the land to which I'm going 

Are such roses always blowing } 
Ah, that I cannot know till I see 
What my dearest Lord has prepared for me. 
20 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

But I know that there in beauty grows 
God's fairest flower, Sharon's Rose. 
And I know that its fragrance floods those plai.i^ 
Where " the noon-tide of glory eternally reigns." 
Even here that sweet Rose blooms for me, 
Even here its beauties I can see ; 
And in Him, that heart of living bloom 
" Are all treasures hid;" 
Even here the lid 
Is partly raised, and the rich perfume 
Floats out, and entrances this soul of mine ; 
But I long for the day when His beauty shall shine 
More fully upon me; when shall unclose 
The petals fair of Sharon's Rose ; 

And I shall watch through eternity 
God's fingers unfolding it for me. 

October iqth. 



LILIES. 

As pure as mountain snows 

Of gleaming white. 
And sweet as fragrant rose 
Formed to delight, — 
So pure, so sweet, my longing soul would be 
A lily fair, oh, dearest Lord, for Thee ! 

21 



SOJVGS IN THE 

In holy, sheltered ground, 

Oh, let me grow ; 
Thou wilt keep guard around, 
For well I know 
It doth Thy loving, tender heart delight, 
To feed among Thy lilies pure and white. 

Thy lily, Lord, Thine own. 

And only Thine. 
For Thee, O Lord, alone 
My soul would shine. 
Shining the light that beams from Thee, my Sun, 
Fair with the purity Thy blood hath won. 

Shine bright, and still more bright, 

Oh, glorious Sun ! 
Clothe me in purer white — 
Thou hast begun. 
Perfect in me Thy work, O Heavenly Love, 
'Till in Thy garden fair, I bloom above. 

Thy garden knows no drouth. 

Watered by Love ; 
Oh, soft wind from the south 

Upon it move. 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Send forth its spices, by Thy gentle might 
Draw forth rich fragrance from the lilies white. 

Fragrance for Thee, Beloved, 

Delay no more ; 
With joy Thy garden's mvoed; 
Thou at the door, 
Wilt enter in, O Christ, and gladly see 
How fair and sweet Thy lilies are for Thee ! 



JEWELS. 

Which are the fairest jewels? 

Rubies of glowing light, 
Pearls that gleam like the moon's soft beam, 

Or diamonds flashing bright ? 
Sapphires that hold the hue of the sky, 

Emeralds of living green. 
Amethysts showing soft purple glooms. 

Or the topaz' glittering sheen.? 

Fairer, I think, in the sight of God, 

Are tears, that while they fall. 
Still brightly shine in the light divine 

Which Jesus sheds over all; 
23 



SO.VGS IN THE 

Even now the gleams of glory shine 

And the beauty flashes here, 
With which the Saviour's loving smile 

Irradiates a tear. 

With eager hope, our trusting hearts 

Look forward to the day, 
When God's loving hand, in the cloudless land, 

Shall wipe all tears away ; 
We know they are kept in His treasury,* 

To shine with a glory meet, 
To deck the crowns which with joyful love, 

We shall cast at our dear Lord's feet. 

October ■20th. 



ONE LIGHT. 

Oh ! Land, all lands surpassing, 

Of glory and of light. 
Where the fairest and rarest of every age 

Shines in the splendor bright ; 
How shall we tell of thy beauty 1 

We find no language fit 

* " Thou hast put all my tears into Thy bottle ! " 
24 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

To paint that clime of bliss sublime, 
But the sacred words of ringing chime, 
" The Lamb is the light of it." 

There, are there joys transcendent, 

Beauty surpassing speech ; 
For the treasured, unmeasured wealth of God, 

Our fancy cannot reach ; 
There all the saints home gathered 

In " heavenly places sit," 
Their souls all bright, in that wondrous light, 
Clad in raiment of spotless white. 

Where " the Lamb is the light of it." 

Oh ! Lamb, divine, far shining, 

Here too. Thou art the Sun ! 
With Thy smiling, beguiling the weary heart. 

Here is the glory begun ; 
Here, on our earthly journey. 

Thou makest all things bright ; 
Here the light divine of that smile of Thine, 
Makes everything in beauty shine ; 

The Lamb is our earthly light. 

It is Christ, my Lord, my Master ! 
It is Christ, my Joy, my Strength ! 



SONGS IN THE 

'TIs His splendor, so tender, floods all my way 

In all its breadth and length ; 
'Tis not a far, far country 

To which my soul aspires. 
There is but a door, when this life is o'er, 
To open, and then forevermore — 

Oh ! Sum of my desires. 

I shall dwell in the glory excelling ! 

Oh ! matchless, wondrous grace ! 
Jesus, Brother, no other joy do I crave 

But this, to see Thy face ! 
I have long lived in the glory. 

Fadeless, ineffable, bright ; 
But what will it be, Thy face to see. 
Through endless ages to gaze on Thee, 

Where Thou, the Lamb, art the light ? 

November ^rd. 



RED AND WHITE CARNATIONS. 

Red, red as the Blood 

That poured its crimson tide 
From the Heart that bled and broke for us, 

From our Saviour's riven side ; 
26 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

The Blood that made our peace, 

That washed away our stams, 
That bought for tried and weary hearts 

The Rest that aye remains. 

White, white as the soul 

That is washed in the cleansing tide. 
Clothed in Christ's robe of Righteousness, 

Sanctified, justified ; 
Breathing the fragrance sweet 

Of a pure and spotless life, 
To Him Who won us, to Him Who crowns 

The victors in the strife. 

Beautiful, fragrant bloom 

On a warped, unsightly tree. 
All the beauty in Thee, oh, Christ ! 

The ugliness in me : 
Wonderful, wonderful Lord ! 

Who died for these souls of ours ; 
And then, to melt our hearts with love, 

Tells us the tale in flowers. 

November -^d. 



27 



SONGS IN THE 

IF SO BE, WE SUFFER WITH HIM. 

Giver of every good and perfect gift ! 

On every land 
Thou scatterest generous, lavish, far and wide, 

With kingly hand, 

Thy regal gifts of beauty and of wealth ; 

The teeming mine. 
The fertile field and forest, all show forth 

Thy power divine. 

Thy hand has decked the earth with flowers, 

With running streams ; 
And from Thy sun. Thou sendest down 

Life-giving beams. 

All glad delights of home and friends 

Are from Thy love ; 
Faint types and shadows of the joys 

Laid up above. 

These joys Thou givest unto all. 

Unasked, unknown ; 
One joy Thou hast reserved, to give 

Unto Thine own. 
28 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

That joy, the richest and most sweet 
That tongue can sing, 

Christ's holy, blessed fellowship 
Of suffering ! 

Woe comes to all, all earthly light 
Must soon grow dim; 

Christ's servants aye rejoice, for they 
Suffer with Him I 

He never leaves His own to faint 

Beneath distress ; 
They never feel that bitterest pang 

Of loneliness. 



But where He brings His sacred cross, 

Himself He brings; 
And the tired soul, taught by His voice, 

Looks up and sings. 

We ask a bright, unclouded lot, 

No shade or fears ; 
Christ gives the brightness, but it shines 

Fairest through tears. 

29 



so A' OS IN THE 

Tears, blessed tears^ that fall from eyes 
Which, while they weep, 

Look up into those loving eyes 
Which ever keep 

Their ceaseless, guarding, tender watch 

Over His own ; 
O blessed eyes, that learn to see 

Jesus alone ! 

And suffering is the " desert place," 

The place " apart ; " 
Where Christ in fellowship draws near 

Unto the heart. 

We turn to Him, we cling to Him, 

We need Him so ; 
We find no moment there, when we 

Can let Him go. 

And He ! What pen can show the strength 

He there imparts ! 
What tongue can tell what Jesus is 

To suffering hearts ! 
30 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

He comes so close, His beauty sweet, 

His matchless grace, 
Stand full revealed, we almost see 

His lovely face. 

He knows those rugged pathways well, 

For He has trod 
Them all before ; O tender Friend ! 

O Son of God ! 

We thank Thee with full hearts, that Thou 

Dost take us there. 
And show us as Thou only canst, 

How bright and fair 

Thou art ; dost promise, when before Thy smile. 

These shadows flee : 
Those who have suffered with Thee here, 

Shall reign with Thee ! 

O blessed suffering ! glorious reign ! 

O matchless grace ! 
"We suffer with Him " here, and there 

" Shall see His face." 

Novanber ^th. 

31 



SOA^GS IN THE 



"HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID." 



He shall shut and none shall open." | 

1 



I HAVE shut the " gates of Death and Hell 

With My mighty pierced hand ; 
No powers of darkness or of sin 

Against my Church can stand ; 
I am the Lord, the Conqueror 

Crowned Victor in the strife ; 
Vanquished are all the hosts of Death 

By the power of the Life ! 

I have shut the door of the sheepfold, 

Unbroken guard to keep 
Against the wolves, who long to tear 

My dear, My purchased sheep ; 
I am the Guard, the Shepherd, 

My pierced Hand alone 
Can keep the door ; when I am near 

No harm can touch My own. 
32 



VALLEY OF A CI 1 OR. 

My own that I loved and died for; 

My sheep that I bought with blood; 
Through thorns I followed their straying steps, 

To bring them home to God ; 
I hold them fast in My mighty Hand, 

Their lasting, sure defence ; 
I have shut my fingers about them, 

And none can pluck them thence. 



II. 

** He shall open and none shall shut." 

I HAVE opened the door to 'the Father, 

For each lost and wandering child; 
That I sought, and followed with patient love, 

Through pathways drear and wild ; 
I am the Son, the Brother, 

And I bring My brethren home, 
Through the door that I opened, and no man 
shuts : 

O My beloved, come ! 

I have opened the door of glory, 

Through the darkness of earth it streams; 



SOXGS AV THE 

It brightens the sunlight, and gilds each cloud 

With its shining, glowing beams. 
I am the Light, the glory. 

The radiance streams fronrr Me, 
And that open door no man can shut, 

Unclosed for aye it shall be. 

I opened the door of Heaven, 

When I vanquished death and sin ; 
And " to him that overcometh, 

Will I give to enter in." 
With the Hand that was pierced for sinners, 

I opened that shining door, 
And I swear, " the Faithful Witness," 

It is open for evermore. 

Jesus, our King, our Glory ! 

Thou breakest our hearts with love ; 
What words can we find in earthly speech, 

Our gratitude to prove ? 
Teach us the tongue of Heaven, 

Notes of the angel choir, 
Words that are made of melting love, 

And glowing, ardent fire. 
34 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

We cannot praise Thee, O Saviour ! 

Here on this earthly shore, 
As we would ; but oh, when the time shall come 

That we enter through that door 
With crowned hosts of Heaven, 

We, Thy redeemed, shall sing. 
Blessing, and glory, and honor be 

To Christ our matchless King ! 

November 6tk. 



A HEART CRY. 

Jesus ! my Lord ! I need Thee, 
Oh, come near ! 
Thou art so dear, 
So tender and so sweet. 

To those who need Thee, come, my Lord, 
And let me hold and kiss Thy blessed feet. 

Thy pierced feet I on Calvary 
Pierced for me ! 
Those wounds I see, 
And when I feel the dart 

Of sorrow pressing sharp and deep. 
Those cruel wounds of Thine heal my torn heart. 
35 



SONGS IN THE 

Oil, Thou art tender, Jesus! 
Thou art love ! 
Lcok from above, 
And smile upon Thy child ; 

For even the deepest shades of night, 
Thou lightenest with Thy tender glances mild. 

Thy earthly lot was sorrow ; 
Thou dost know 
The keenest woe : 
There is no grief like thine. 

All that we suffer now Thou dost 
Bear with us, and make light, O Strength Divine ! 

I feel that Thou art near me, 
Not Thy feet, 
Blessed and sweet. 
Thou yieldest to my hold ; 

But in Thine arms, so dear and strong. 
My trembling Spirit Thou dost closely fold. 

Thou tellest me, in accents 
Sweet and strong, 
" The way is long, 
But child, I am thy way ; 

36 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

I dwell in thee, and thou in Me, 
And thus together journey to the day 

*' When sorrow shall be ended. 

Till that day, 

Through all the way, 
My strength shall ever thee defend ; 

No stranger voice shall greet thee then 
But mine, thy life-long, ever-present Friend. 

November jth. 



"THOU KNOWEST THAT I LOVE THEE." 

Saviour ! Thou knowest every thought and 
feeling 
Of this weak human heart, which Thou hast 
made; 
Open it lies, to Thy keen glance revealing 
In clearest vision, all its light and shade ; 
Reading its page. Thou knowest that this word 
Is deep and heartfelt truth ; I love Thee, Lord ! 

I love Thee, oh, Thou dear and precious 
Saviour ! 
Light of my life, my God, my Joy, my 
Strength ; 

37 



SOiVGS IN THE 

Earth's pilgrimage is brightened by Thy favor, 
Thy love shall crown my soul in Heaven at 
length. 
Thou into my adoring heart hast poured, 
The love with which I love Thee, dearest Lord ! 

When earthly light grows dim and skies are 
clouded, 
And my sad heart is torn with sharpest grief, 
Then through the mists in which my life is 
shrouded, 
Thy radiant, tender smile brings sweet relief; 
And still my heart, with glad unchanging word. 
Breaks forth in song, " Thou knowest I love Thee, 
Lord ! " 

And when, at length, I walk by faith no longer, 
When through the working of Thy wondrous 
grace 
My longing eyes, made clearer, brighter, stronger, 
At last shall see thy beauty "face to face," 
Then, oh, my King, my Jesus, my Adored ! 
I'll sing in worthy strains, I love Thee, Lord! 

November %th. 



38 



VALLEY OF AC ff OR. 



THE TWO KNOCKINGS. 



" Behold, I stand at the door and knock. " 

One Stands knocking at a door, 
Which, with rusted hinge and bolt, 

And dead vines matted o'er. 
Looks as it would open 
Never more ! 

His is face of kingly beauty, 

Yet so sweet ! 
And His form is grand, majestic, 
But His feet. 
Soiled with travel, pierced with thorns, 
While the semblance of a crown His brow adorns. 

And He stands and knocks and knocks ; 
Though there comes no voice to greet Him, 

Or to bid Him stay ; 
Comes no loving step to meet Him, 
No sweet voices to entreat Him, 

" Do not go away I " 
39 



sojVgs in the 

Will there never come an answer 

To that knock ? 

No hand upon the lock, 
To throw wide upon its hinges 

That dark door ? 
Will that gracious, kingly stranger, 

Knock forever more ? 

Hark ! He calls in melting accents, 

" Open to me, soul ! 
I have come to seek and save thee. 

And to make thee whole. 
See, I stand with hands rich laden. 

All for thee; 
Hear Me, oh, thou lost and dying ! 

Open unto Me ! " 

Then at last there comes an answer 
From that door-way dark. 

And the Stranger bends still lower, 
Earnestly to hark. 

To that cry so sad and dreary. 

From that soul so worn and weary. 

" Oh, I cannot ! oh, I cannot ! " 
Cries the soul, 
40 



VALLE Y OF A CHOR. 

" Sin has been so long the master 
' Of my wretched heart, 
That I cannot now upstart 
From the clinging, choking bondage; 

All control 
Of myself has long since left me, 

I can only long 
For some hand benign and strong, 

To set me free ; 
There is One of Whom I've heard, 
* Mighty to save,' in deed and word," — 

Said the Stranger, " I am He." 

" Shall I enter by My might ? 

Shall I break thy chain ? 
Scatter all the shades of night, 
By the glory of My light. 

And set thee free again ?" 

" If Thou canst," the soul replied, 
" Throw the close locked portal wide. 
I have chafed and fretted long 
Against my chain, 
. But my Master is so strong. 
And he holds a mighty throng 
41 



SONGS IN THE 

At his bidding." Said the Stranger, 
With a voice serene and gracious, 
*' I am stronger than the strong !" 

" But I have no wealth to pay 

For such grace of Thine. 
I have squandered all away 
That once was mine ; 
I long for Thee, 
And weary to be free, 
But I have naught to give ; 
Then how can I receive 
Such gift and grace divine ? " 

" I ask no gift, only say, ' Come ! ' 
Admit Me to thy home ; 
I cannot enter unless thou dost greet 
With joy the coming of My feet. 
If thou dost wish for Me, 
Then I will come to thee, 
And make thy heart all glorious as My home. 
Only say * Come !" 
Oh, Ihou for whom I died ! " 

" Oh, fling the portal wide, 
Thou who art love, undreamed, unknown ! 
42 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Come in, come in ! 

And banish sin, 
Dispel the shadows of my life's long dream, 
And raise a throne where Thou shalt reign su- 
preme." 



A smile shone forth upon that kingly face, 

A smile of heavenly grace ; 

And from those eyes, so deep, so sweet, 

A loving light beamed out the soul to greet. 

The pierced hand was raised, 

And even as I gazed. 
Shattered fell all the bars and bolts of sin, 
And Christ had entered in ! 



II. 

" When he cometh and knocketh." 

'Tis the same door ; 
Now wreathed o'er 
With vines of vigorous growth 
And lusty shoot. 
Bearing rich clusters 'neath the shading leaves, 
Of ripe and luscious fruit. 
43 



SO.VGS IX THE 

Again a knock ! 

But not now as before, 
Does the King wait an answer ; 
A hand quick turns the lock, 
And opens wide the door, 
And the rejoicing soul comes forth with eager word 
To meet and greet his loved and longed for Lord. 

" Oh, art Thou come at last ? 
My Lord, so dear, so sweet ! 
With rapturous joy I greet 
The coming of those blessed feet. 

For which I've watched so long." 

And thus with joyous song 
The soul did greet his Lord ; 
No stranger now, but loved, adored. 
And longed for, with a longing deep, 

And true and strong, 
As that with which the eyes that keep 

A weary watch for morning long. 

" Yes," said the King, in accents clear and sweet. 
That fell like Heaven's ov/n music on that list'- 
ning heart ; 

44 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

" Yes, I have come 
To take thee home ; 
Rise, and with Me from sense and sin depart." 

With rapt, clear eyes upraised 

Unto that beauteous face, 
With eyes that gazed, and gazed 

Upon that matchless grace, 
And could not turn away, 
The soul looked up. And Christ looked down 

To meet that upturned gaze, 
With love, that like a ray 
Of glory, did transfigure and did crown 

That waiting one. so blest. 
Found by his Master watching. 
" Come," said the King again. 

And clasped him to His breast, 
And bore him in His loving arms 

To glory, joy, and rest ! 



45 



SONGS IN THE 

I. 

WHAT WAS DEATH? 

Death was a frowning barrier, 

Shut on life ; 
A going forth unfriended, 

To a region rife 
With doubts, and fears^ and questions. 

Meeting no reply ; 
Sorrow behind and gloom before 

Him who was called to die. 

Death was a surging river, 

A cold and sullen stream. 
On which no sunlight ever 

Shed e'en a clouded gleam ; 
A tide that, with sweep resistless, 

The shuddering soul did bear 
From all life's joys, to deepest night, 
The soul that asked in wild affright 

The answerless question, " Where ? ' 

Death was " the King of Terrors," 
Standing with icy dart, 
46 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Ready to plunge its venomed tip 
In the trembling human heart ; 

An awful, shrouded figure, 
With cold and cruel hands 

Binding his unresisting prey- 
In adamantine bands. 

E'en then the earth was lovely, 

And voices sweet did call, 
'Neath smiling skies, but a shadow 

Darkened over all ; 
One word could chill the gladness, 

It came with bated breath, 
And the bright cheek paled and the pulses thrilled, 

And that awful word was Death ! 



ir. 



WHAT IS DEATH? 

Death is the gate to the regions of glory, 
Flooded with splendor, ineffable, bright, 

'Tis the first page of Eternity's story, 
Written in letters of light. 
47 



SOiVGS IN THE 

Death is the end of our sorrows and labors, 

The bound where earth's crosses are gladly laid 
down ; 
*Tis the glad hour when, with triumph, the Master 
Gives to each sufferer a crown. 

Death is the pause in life's symphony endless, 
Earth's part is finished, its discords and jars ; 

Then the soul wakes to the anthems of glory, 
Swelling beyond the bright stars. 

Death is the bursting of bud into blossom, 
'Tis the reward of the Husbandman's care, 

'Tis the rich harvest of grain full and golden, 
Clusters of fruit ripe and fair. 

Death is the waking of thought into action, 

'Tis the fulfillment of earth's brightest dream ; 

All the soul's powers unfettered, untrammeled. 
Working in glory supreme. 

Death is the gathering of souls into Heaven, 

'Tis the sweet welcome of v/anderers who roam, 
'Tis the dear sound of our Father's kind accents, 
" Child, it is time to come home !" 
48 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Death is the coming of Jesus our Brother, 
To take to the mansions above ail His own, 

Tenderly bearing each soul on His bosom, 
Bearing to glory unknown ! 

Death is the rending of earth's veiling curtain, 
'Tis the bright hour when faith's glass is re- 
moved ; 

When, " face to face," we shall see His full glory, 
" Whom, having not seen, we have loved." 

Death ? 'tis not death that shall work all these won- 
ders ; 
Death has been vanquished in glorious strife : 
Jesus, the Victor, has broken his fetters — 
Death is destroyed by the Life ! 

November iii/t. 



WATCH! 

Matt. 24 : 42. 

" Watch ! for ye know not the hour," 
When Christ your Lord shall come ; 

Come, with tender impatience, 
To take His chosen home ; 
49 



SO.VGS IN THE 

Home to " the place " He has made them, 

Of beauty untold above ; 
Home to the house of the Father, 

Home to His glory and love ! 

" Watch ! for ye know not the hour ! " 

It may be He stands at the door ; 
It may be but a moment, 

And your care and sin are o'er ; 
It may be His hand is lifted, 

Even this moment to knock ; 
Are you waiting, are you watching, 

With your hand upon the lock ? 

" Watch ! for ye know not the hour ! " 

Suppose that He should come, 
And find that you were not watching, 

Or thinking of going home ; 
With all the house ungarnished. 

And all the lights grown dim ; 
Suppose He should knock unheeded. 

And no welcome ready for Him ! 

" Watch ! for ye know not the hour ! '* 
I am waiting, Lord, to catch 
50 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 
The first sound of Thy footfall, 

With my hand upon the latch ; 
I am waiting, oh, blessed Jesus, 

For the sound of Thy longed-for knock; 
Then with an eager welcome, 

Quick I shall turn the lock. 

O glad, O blessed hour ! 

It draweth on apace. 
When my glorious Lord shall enter, 

And I shall " see his face ; " 
And well do I remember, 

That He calls those servants blest, 
Who are found by their Master watching. 
What words can tell the rest ? 

November xith. 



AFRAID? 

"Aren't you afraid in the least ?" 

I'm waiting for Jesus to take me 

To the home that He has made ; 
I am waiting to hear His longed-for knock, 
My hand all ready to turn the lock: 
Of what should I be afraid ? 
51 



SO.VGS IN THE 

Is the daughter afraid to go home, 

When the long school-days are ended ? 
Afraid of the welcome of father and mother, 
The glad-ringing voice of sister and brother, 
In loving welcome blended ? 

Is the child afraid to turn homeward. 

When the evening hour is come ? 
Does he fear, when he hears the summons sweet, 
Sounding so clear, his ears to greet, 
And give new strength to his weary feet — 

" Come, my darling, come home ? " 

Does the maiden fear the blissful hour, 

When the chosen- of her heart 
Shall come to claim her as his own, 
To live with him, and for him alone, 

Never till death to part ? 

No, I have no fear, for my trusting heart 

Can see nor doubt nor shade : 
I am the daughter, whose school-days are over; 
I am the tired and weary rover ; 
I am the maiden awaiting her lover : 

Then how can I be afraid ? 
52 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

" But are'nt you afraid of the River 

That rolls its sullen tide 
Between this life and the other Shore — • 
The awful River you must past o'er, 

So dark and deep and wide? " 

Who told you there was any River ? 

My dear, and tender Lord, 
Has told me everything I know 
About that home to which I go ; 
But of that River's resistless flow. 

He has never said one word. 

" But then there is the ' Valley 

Of the Sha4ow of Death ; ' 
Do you not fear the awful shade ? 
Is not your very soul afraid 

Of that Valley's icy breath ? " 

Yes, there is the " Valley of Shadow," 
Of that my Lord has told me ; 
But He says it is a restful shade, 
Wherein I cannot feel afraid. 
For His " rod and staff," my help are made, 
While on His breast He will hold me. 
53 



SOA'GS IN THE 

" Your sins, surely they must affright you ? " 

They were all on Jesus laid ; 
" In His own body on the Tree." 
He took them all away from me, 
And cast them deep into the sea. 

Then how can I be afraid.? 

No, my Sun shines brighter and brighter, 

My sky is without a shade ; 
I know He will come to bear me to rest, 
I know that the watching servants are blest ; 
I know that my longing His face to see, 
Is nothing compared to His longing for me ; 
I know He " prepared," near his Father's throne, 
" A place for " me, His very o\^ ; 
I know that in that blessed place 
I " shall serve " and see Him " face to face : " 

Then how can I be afraid } 

November i^k. 



54 



VALLEY OF ACHOK, 



" LET HIM KISS ME WITH THE KISSES OF 
HIS MOUTH." 

If it were not in the Bible, 

None could ever believe it ; 
No one would dare to raise such prayer, 

Or ask for faith to receive it. 
Can It be, O heart of mine ! 
That this wondrous Word is thine.? 
I know how His smile can shine, 
That His "love is better than wine : " 
But, 
Will He kiss me "with the kisses of His mouth.?'' 

In the legend old of Moses, 

As the Rabbins tell the story. 
When the man of God, the Mount had trod, 

And seen the promised glory; 
There, on the lone mountain side, 
Silence round him far and wide. 
With his Maker by his side, 
They say that he in rapture died ; 
For 
God kissed him " with tlie kisses of His mouth." 
55 



SO.VGS IN THE 

Is this story naught but fable — 

Have we no right to believe it ? 
It well may seem but a fanciful dream, 

To him who cannot receive it ; 
But, Heart, say how would it be, 
If Jesus, who died for me, 
Whose face I so long to see. 
Should treat me so graciously. 
As 
To " kiss me with the kisses of His mouth ? " 

I am sure if He should do it, 

I could not wait ariy longer ; 
My soul could not stay in bonds of clay. 

Its wings by that kiss made stronger. 
I think that when He shall come 
To carry my spirit home, 
That I may not doubt or fear. 
He will draw me very near. 
And 
" Kiss me with the kisses of His mouth ! ' 

Then I shall die of rapture, 
Like Moses in the story ; 
Clasped to His breast in perfect rest, 
56 



VALLEY OF ACIIOR. 

I shall enter the realms of glory : 
While eternal ages roll 
O'er my blest and sinless soul, 
I can ne'er forget that hour supreme, 
My waking from earth's long dream, 
When 
He kissed me " with the kisses of His mouth ! 

November x^th. , 



-I SLEEP, BUT MY HEART WAKETH." 

Wearied with pain, O Lord ! 

Thy gentle touch 
Has soothed the quivering nerves, 
And such 
The virtue flowing from Thy healing fingers, 
That my eyes cease to keep 
Their weary watch. I sleep. 
But while the wished and watched for daylight 
lingers 
In the still gloom that fills the room, 
My heart waketh. 
57 



SONGS I.V THE 

Waketh for Thee, O Lord ! 

Thy blessed feet ! 
Quickly to lift the latch, 
And meet 
Thy gracious, loving glance, so sweet and cheering. 
So, even while I sleep. 
My heart doth ceaseless keep 
The watch of those who love Thy bright appearing. 
Until Thou come to take me home, 
My heart waketh ! 

November x^th. 



MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING. 

Lord, dost Thou know I am waiting. 

Longing, and watching for Thee ? 
Counting the moments as hours, 

Until Thy face I see ; 
Questioning, " is He not coming .?" 

Asking it o'er and o'er — 
Listening for Thy knock. Lord, 

Longing to open the door. 

I thought last night He was coming, 
That I heard Him at the gate ; 
58 



VALLE Y OF A CMOR, 

But He only sent a message— 

" A little longer wait ; 
I, too, am watching, and waiting 

For the glad hour to come, 
When I shall bear thy spirit 

Rejoicing to thy home. 

" But I want thee, O my servant. 

To suffer for Me still ; 
'Tis well to long for thy Master, 

But 'tis better to do His will." 
So I cried unto my strong Jesus 

Whose love is so tender and great ; 
Strengthen my longing spirit, 

Make me willing to wait. 

I am glad that He asked me to suffer ; 

Because I surely know 
I can never do that for Him, 

In the Home to which I go. 
And I am sure I shall not be sorry 

When My Lord does really come ; 
That I suffered a little longer 

Before He took me Home. 

November I'jtk. 

59 



SOJVGS IN THE 



A THANKSGIVING HYMN. 

I THANK Thee, O my God ! for all the grace 
Vouchsafed to me, so needy and so weak ; 

The ceaseless shining of Thy radiant face ; 

Thy tender voice, which constantly doth speak 

To me such words of strength and cheering love, 

A foretaste of the intercourse above, 

I thank Thee, O my God ! that though my pain 
Grows greater every day, and my strength less, 

That more and more Thou 'stablishest Thy reign 
Within my heart, and more and more dost bless 

Thy weary one, who, safe from doubts and harms, 
Rests ever in the " Everlasting Arms." 

I thank Thee, O my God ! that Thou dost sit 

Patient, as the Refiner of my soul ; 
Guiding the flames that melt the dross from it, 

With the w^ise love that has decreed the whole ; 
Watching until the pure and silvery shine 
Flash back in beauty that sweet smile of Thine. 
60 



VALLEY OF ACTIO R. 

I tliank Thee, O my God ! that though to me 
Thou hast denied the festive joys of earth, 

Yet on my bed of pain I lift to Thee 

A grateful heart of love and holy mirth. 

And sing with ardent love and glowing praise 

Thy Name, who art the joy of all my days. 

For it is all of Thee, Thy radiant light, 
O tender Christ ! illumines all my way ; 

Thou givest me sweet songs in deepest night, 
Therefore I keep this glad Thanksgiving Day. 

Well may I raise a loving song to Thee, 

O blessed Lord, who art so much to me ! 

Well may I keep Thanksgiving day, who dwell 
Safe in the shelter of Thy secret place ; 

Well may my heart with joy and rapture swell, 
Who hope so soon to see Thy lovely Face. 

Take, Lord, this song, unworthy though it be, 

Until I spend Thanksgiving Day with Thee ! 

November ■z'^th. 



6i 



SO.VGS IN THE 



"THE MASTER IS COME, AND CALLETH 
FOR THEE." 

To one dear to her, she said : '' There is 3'et one song I should like 
to write, ' The Master has Come, and Calleth for Thee,' but I shall 
have to leave it till I get to Heaven," 

" Unless I Write it for you ? " 

" I wish you would," she replied. 

Early in the afternoon, 
Ere the work of the day was done, 
For our loved one came the Master. 
Long had she waited for His knock, 
With her hand " ever on the lock/' 
For she knew that He would come. 
We had often thought before 
His blessed feet were at the door, 

And, " Dear Heart," we had said, 
" He has come, and calleth for thee." 

Yet He spoke not. But instead 
She whispered, " Lay rae down to bear ; 
It is sweet to lie here still, 
Wishing nothing but His will." 

And still the days of mortal pain 
Came and went ; until again 
We said, " Surely He has come." 
62 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Yet He tarried, that she might fulfill 
Still more perfectly His will ; 
And through thirst and hunger know- 
As she only could below, 
His " fellowship of suffering ;" 
His will, she found her blessed " meat," 
He gave her the " Bread of Life " to eat ; 
And often when our hearts were breaking, 
And her parched throat and lips were aching, 
She would say, all comfort taking, 
" His love is better than wine." 

Patient, " happy, blessed child," 

She lay there " watching ever ;" 
Longing, yearning for His face, 

Yet impatient never ; 
Dwelling in " His secret place," 

" Under His wings abiding,"* 
Tasting all the wondrous grace 

Of His dear providing ; 
Proving more and more each day, 

As she went her " blessed way," 
The love of her " Wonderful Jesus !" 

But at last, one afternoon, 
We knew that He had come. 



so JVC S IN THE VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

And low, so that we could not hear, 

He whispered in that list'ning ear, 

" I have come to take thee home." 

By that dear " waking " heart was heard 

The Master's longed-for blessed word, 

And smiling, she opened her loving eyes 

In the full light of Paradise, 

To dwell with Him, His face to see, 

" For where He is shall His servants be ;" 

And whither our loved one went we know, 

Some happy day, we too shall go ; 

And sweet to our ears will the message be, 

" The Master is come, and calleth for thee." 



64 



SELECTIONS FROM EARLIER POEMS. 



6S 



SONGS IN THE VALLEY OF ACHOR. 



THE GRACIOUS INVITATION. 

Matt, ii: 28. 

When th*e heart is bowed with anguish, 

When bright hopes and dreams are o'er ; 
When in deepest night we languish, 
Weeping, mourning, oh, so sore ! 
Then, like strains of sweetest music, 

Thrilling every weary breast, 
Comes this precious word of Jesus : 
" Oh, ye weary, heavy laden, come to Me and 
rest !" 

Earth looks dark, and Heaven looks distant, 

Tears bedim our weeping eyes ; 
In the spirit's utter weakness 

Faithless fears and questions rise : 
Then like holy benediction 

To the soul by troubles pressed, 
Comes the gracious invitation, 
" Oh, ye weary, heavy laden, come to Me and 
rest !" 

67 



SOA'GS IN THE 

When we're weary with the journey 

Up life's hill-side, hard and steep ; 
When through dark and gloomy hours 

Ceaseless watch our spirits keep ; 
From those lips of rarest sweetness, 

To each weary soul addressee^, 
Comes the gracious invitation, 
Oh, ye weary, heavy laden, come to Me and 
rest ! " 



Sweetest words, oh, blessed Saviour, 

Are those words of love and power ! 
Comforting in deepest sorrow. 

Cheering e'en the darkest hour ; 
Softly, gently, through earth's noises. 

To the soul by cares oppressed, 
Comes the gracious invitation, 
" Oh, ye weary, heavy laden, come to Me and 
rest ! " 

Sweetest rest for weary pilgrims, 
Sweetest rest for aching hearts ! 

From the bosom of the Saviour 
Loving pity ne'er departs ; 
68 



VALLE Y OF A CHOR. 

Ever in life's stormy battle, 

Tenderly to souls distressed, 
Comes the gracious invitation, 
" Oh, ye weary, heavy laden, come to Me and 
rest ! " 

Not till life on earth is ended. 

Must the weary spirit wait 
For the rest so sorely needed ; 

Long before we reach the gate 
Of the bright, celestial City, 

To the weary, saddened breast, 
Comes the gracious invitation, 
"Oh, ye weary, Jieavy laden, come to Me and 
rest ! " 



"I AM THY SALVATION." 

My Lord, I come to Thee, 

I cannot choose but come ; 
Thou drawest me by Thy love 
No more to roam. 
But I am sad and burdened sore with sin, 
Tender Lord Jesus, wilt Thou take me in ? 
69 



SONGS IN- THE 

" Child, did I e'er reject 

One soul that came to me ? 
My full heart's crimson tide 
Was shed for thee ; 
In that pure stream I will wash out thy stains : 
Tremble no more ; what doubt or fear remains?' 

O Lord, I am not fit 

To touch Thy blessed feet ; 
It cannot be for me 
Thy mercy sweet ; 
I cannot touch Thee, Lord, so fair, so clean — 
My sins, O Lord ! my sins they come between. 

" My child, that cannot be, 
For all thy sins I bore 
Upon the shameful cross ; 
This strife give o'er, 
Lay down thy sins and sorrows at my feet. 
And thou shalt find my loving welcome sweet." 

But, Lord, they are so dark, 

They are so great, so deep ; 
They hold me tight and close ; 
70 



VALLEY OF AC FLO R. 

They seem to steep 
My soul in blackness as of night, 
It cannot enter in Thy holy sight. 

" My child, list thou to Me, 
And mark well every word : 
Thou knowest Him Who speaks, 
Thy faithful Lord ; 
Thou knowest that my lips can never lie, 
Thou knowest I cannot mine own self deny. 

" / say, thou art forgiven ; 
/ say that thou art clean, 
No guilt upon thy soul 
Can come between 
Thee and the rest and healing thou dost crave ; 
O doubting soul ! 'twas thee I died to save. 

" If there had never been 
Any but thy lost soul, ♦ 
I should have died for thee : 
Thou hast the whole 
Of that rich tide of love that once did start 
From out thy Saviour's bleeding, broken heart. 
71 



sojvgs in the 

" Child, is it not enough ? 
Must I do more for thee ? 
Child, oh, thou weary child ! 
Come, come to Me : 
Closely I'll clasp my loving arms about 
Thee, and I'll never, never cast thee out. 

" Thy sins do hold thee close, 
But not so close as I ; 
Strong have I been to love. 
And strong to die. 
Come, and for thee the conflict I wilj win, 
For I am stronger far, than all thy sin. 



THE ATTRACTING POWER OF THE CROSS. 

What mean these hurrying throngs, these angry 
faces. 

These raging voices borne upon the air ? 
The crowds come pouring forth from distant places, 

We see them, hear them shouting everywhere. 

They come with steady tramp without the city, 
Dragging among them one weak, helpless form ; 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Onward they march, relentless, without pity ; 
Oh, the dread mutterings of that human storm ! 

On to the height of Calvary's rude summit 
They drag their Victim, full of cruel wrath ; 

Regarding not His weariness and languor, 
Tliey force Him onward up the stony path. 

With taunts and jeers and harsh and cruel sneering 
They fill His ears. Whose every word was love; 

Not all their Victim's gentle, wordless patience, 
Availeth aught their purposes to move. 

They bear Him on, and to the tree accursed 
Affix those gentle hands, those tireless feet. 

That roamed for them Judea's hills and valleys, 
Engaged in works of love and healing sweet. 

The awful deed is done — the sun is darkened. 
The earth upheaves, the rocks and graves are 
torn ; 

The Son of God has died, His work is finished, 
Upon the cross He yields His life 'mid scorn 

And shame and woe. Forsaken by His Father, 
He drank for us the bitter, bitter cup. 
73 



SOATGS IN THE 

His mission is accomplished, between eafth and 
Heaven 
He on the shameful tree is " lifted up." 

Yes, " lifted up," indeed. Thou art, O Saviour ! 

Not on a throne of kingly pomp and power, 
But lifted up before all hearts forever 

Wert Thou in that Thy darkest, bitterest hour. 

And from the depth of Thy humiliation 

Shall shine with glory bright Thy wondrous love, 

The cross, of earthly shame and scorn the symbol. 
Shall be all highest, brightest crowns above. 

For centuries the poet and the painter 

Have dwelt upon the haunting, moving tale, 

And men have gazed, and turned again to ponder 
Upon those wondrous scenes, that never fail 

To fill the heart with strange and ceaseless wonder ; 

And men have listened v/hile the poet sung 
Of Jesus Christ the crucified, and lingered 

And on his lips with breathless interest hung. 

And strong and cultured intellects have studied, 
And through the ages sent the question on, 

74 



VALLE Y OF ACHOR. 

" What think ye of Christ Jesus ? The great 
Teacher, 
Was He in very truth of God the Son ? " 

And to the sad and darkened human spirit, 

Filled with earth's anguish, burdened with 
earth's load, 

The story comes like sweetest, heavenly music, 
And lifts the heart in love and praise to God. 

Thus are fulfilled the words that Thou didst utter; 

Through all the agony, the shame, the loss, 
Thou didst foresee that naught in all earth's story 

Could rival the sweet story of the Cross. 

Around the Cross, our hope and trust all gather, 
Beneath that cross in reverent love we lie, 

And as the ages roll, shall grow jits power. 

Drawing all men to Thee, Who there didst die. 

Still draw us by Thy cross, O blessed Saviour; 

Still let its light shine forth from sea to sea, 
Till every blood-bought soul of every nation, 

Shall find all life and joy and love in Thee. 



75 



SONGS IN THE 
NOTHING CAN HARM THE CHRISTIAN. 

HosEA 2 : i8. 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 

In sorrow's deepest night, 
Above him still love's radiance beams, 
Upon him still the glory streams 

From Him who is " the Light." 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 

All Satan's deadliest wiles, 
His poisoned darts and secret snares. 
Are foiled by faith's entreating prayers. 

Beneath the Saviour's smiles. 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 

Forever at his side 
There stands one Friend thro' day and night; 
Through sorrow's storm and pleasure's light ; 

He will for aye abide. 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 
Death keeps no more dark tryst ; 
76 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

There is no Death, only a door 
Is opened, and forevermoie 
The Christian is with Christ ! 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 

E'en God's all-seeing eye 
Can find no record in His Book 
Against His soul ; from His dread look, 

The Christian need not fly. 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 

For he is not alone : 
Clothed by those pierced, atoning Hands, 
Wrapped in Christ's Righteousness, he stands 

Before the Great White Throne, 

Nothing can harm the Christian ! 

God finds in him no stain. 
Who can condemn } 'Tis Christ that died ; 
Forever at his dear Lord's side, 

In glory he shall reign. 



77 



SOA'GS IN THE 



WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG," 

I AM too weak to cling ! 

My weary bands 
Nerveless and empty fall ; 
Jesus my Strength, my All ! 

Before Thee my weak spirit stands : 
Look, O my King ! 

I struggled long in vain ! 

The fearful shock 
Took strength and sense away ; 
I could not even pray, 

Nor stretch my trembling grasp towards the 
Rock; 
See Thou my pain. 

Thy loving hand was near, 

It touched my hand ; 
Thy strong arm clasped me close ; 
Beneath Thy blessed Cross 
Sheltered and firm I stand, without a fear. 
78 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

The " Everlasting Arms," 

With swift embrace, 
Lift me to Thy dear breast ; 
There held by Thee I rest, 

Almost I see Thy radiant face ; 
I fear no harms. 

Firmly I trust Thy love, 

For Thou hast given 
To me that loving faith 
That knows in life or death 

Thou givest strength, and love, and heaven 
That strength I prove. 

Though grief my heart may tear, 

Yet Thou art near ; 
Though sorrow's heavy pall 
On my weak spirit fall — 

Beneath that shade I cannot fear 
For thou art there. 

Then, when too weak to cling, 

My struggles cease, 
I fall upon Thy breast, 
And find a heavenly rest; 

For I am kept in " perfect peace " 
By Thee, my King ! 
79 



SOA'GS IN THE 

CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL. 

Earth's joys are bright and dazzling, 

Their beauty I can see ; 
But they have no power to charm my soul, 

For Christ is all to me. 

Dost thou know what He did to save me ? 

Listen ! I'll tell it to thee ; 
And then thou no longer wilt wonder 

That Christ is All to me. 

I was bound in a deadly bondage, 

I did not care to flee; 
He showed me my woe, and he told me, 

That He would be All to me. 

At first I did not believe Him — 

At first I would not see ; 
But He showed me at last the need of my soul, 

That He should be All to me. 

I could not cast off that bondage, 

Though I longed, and toiled to be free ; 

Then Jesus vanquished my soul's dark foe, 
And made Himself All to me. 
80 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

I had sinned, ah ! deeply and darkly, 

God's wrath I could not flee ; 
I could never bear the penalty, 

But Christ was All to me. 

Do you know how He paid my ransom % 

In agony on the Tree ; 
'Mid scorn, and shame, and cruel pangs — 

Do you wonder He's all to me ? 

And then He patiently led me 

That grace and love to see ; 
By His Spirit of wisdom and patient love, 

He made Himself All to me, 

I cannot describe His patience-— 
How He willed that I should be 

Wholly His own ; how He worked in my soul, 
He, who is All to me. 

His love He has lavished upon me, 

Boundless, unspeakable, free; 
Now, you cannot wonder that Jesus 

Is "All and in All to me." 
8i 



solves IN THE 

His presence is with me always, 

Though His face I cannot see ; 
But when earth-life is ended and glory is mine, 
When that loving smile upon me shall shine. 
Oh ! then I shall sing on the Heavenly shore, 
The song I have sung on earth before — 

Christ is "All and in All " to me. 



"SHADOWS." 

" Oh \ sadly fall on hill and lea 
The shadows of the weary day ; 
And wafted from the wailing sea, 
A low long murmur seems to say. 
To say : 
' Shine on, thou golden sun ; 
Thine hour will soon be done ! 
Ah ! well-a-day ! ' 

" Cold drives the rain upon the world, 

And homeless is the north wind's cry ; 
And 'mid the darkness, thickly curled, 
Sad tones of sorrow seem to sigh, 
82 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

To sigh : 
' Bloom on, thou shining rose, 
Thy short life soon will close, 

For thou must die ! * 

" Oh ! sadly fall on loving hearts 

The shadows of life's weary way ; 
And heedless of the tear that starts, 
A mournful message seems to say, 
To say : 
* Thee and thy love, the tomb 
Soon, soon will fold in gloom ! 
Ah ! well-a-day ! ' " 



From the N. V. Trzlinnf, 



[answer.] 

LIGHT. 

Oh ! brightly falls through rifted clouds 

The radiance of the coming day ; 
And through the hovering mist that shrouds 
Our earthly future, seems to say, 
. To say : 
" Hope on through toil and sorrow, 
83 



SONGS IN THE 

For soon the glorious morrow 
Shall be to-day ! " 

Patience, her gentle finger lays 

On weary heart and weeping eye ; 
Beyond still wait us golden days, 
And from above we hear a cry, 
A cry : 
" Sorrow's fierce strokes shall cease, 
Thou shalt find endless peace, 
With Christ on high ! " 

Tears falling fast shut out the light ; 

Onward we go, what hope, what choice ? 
Before us lies the tomb's dark night; 
But listen I we can hear His voice, 
His voice : 
" I have abolished death ; 
Be strong in that bright faith — 
Look up, rejoice." 



84 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 



"HE KNOWS AND HE LOVES." 

He knows, ah ! well He knows, for He was 
tempted, 
That He might deeper love and succor give. 
If He, the Son of God, was not exempted, 

How can we murmur that so oft we grieve ? 
If through His griefs our "Captain" "perfect'* 

grew. 
May not our trials make us perfect too ? 

He knows, my Blessed Saviour knows my sorrow, 
He yearns to comfort, and He stoops to cheer; 

He points my faltering faith to that to-morrow 
When I shall meet again my children dear ; 

When I shall clasp them to my raptured heart, 

In that bright Heaven, never more to part ! 

He knows that often Satan's dark suggestions 
A warring tumult in my bosom make ; 

That he, by murmuring rebellious questions. 
Attempts my love and faith in God to shake ; 

He asks so often, " Is it for the best ? " 

That it is hard in perfect trust to rest. 
85 



SO.VGS IN- THE 

How oft he takes advantage of my sadness, 

To whisper to me murmuring doubts and fears ; 
He asks me, " Canst thou still believe in glad- 
ness ? 
Canst thou see future joy through these sad 
tears ? 
Canst thou believe that after this dark night, 
Shall dawn a joyful morning, sunshine bright ? " 

And I can answer, " Yes ! " For He who knoweth 
My utter weakness and my Tempter's power, 

To my faint heart in strength and glory showeth, 
That though above me heavy clouds may 
lower, 

Shadowing my pathway, ever still above 

Shines from my Father's Throne the light of love. 

He loves ! It was His love ordained my trial. 
He sent my sorrows, He imposed my loss ; 

That, in the midst of grief znd self-denial, 

I should " come after" Him, bearing my cross, — 

Knowing that when I lay my burden down. 

As I have shared His cross, I'll share His crown. 

And still, though heavy clouds around me gather, 
I knov/ in grief His faithfulness He proves ; 
^6 



VALLEY OF ACHOR. 

Therefore I will not doubt or fear, but rather 
Rejoice in the sweet thought, " He knows and 
loves ; " 
He knows my sorrow, all my weakness proves, 
And, in His tenderness, forgives and loves. 

And when life's cares and griefs shall all be 
ended. 
When my glad eyes have bid farewell to tears ; 
When through Death's portal, by my Lord be- 
friended, 
I shall pass safe, feeling no doubts nor fears, — 
In the bright light that shines from Jesus' Throne, 
Earth's darkness past, — I'll "know as I am 
known ! " 



OCTOBER 31ST, 1867. 

He has been in Heaven three years to-day, 
My beautiful boy with the soft brown eyes ; 

He has been in Heaven three years to-day, 
Three years in glory beyond the skies. 

Three years in the Saviour's arms of love. 
Three years in the Gentle Shepherd's fold ; 
87 



SONGS IN THE VALLEY OF ACL/OR. 

Three years in the Beautiful Land above, 
Three years in the wonderful City of Gold. 

Together they dwell, my boys so fair, 

Together they praise the Lord they love : 

Together one day I shall find them there. 
When I, too, am called to my home above. 

On earth o'er their graves I will not weep ; 

Tears may not fall when Faith can soar 
And see the glory in which they dwell — 

The radiant light of the Heavenly Shore. 

No ! I thank Thee, dear Saviour, that with Thee 
above, 

Dwell my darlings, forever safe and blest, 
Wrapped in a fonder than mother's love. 

Sheltered so tenderly on Thy breast. 

I joy in their Joy, I am glad in their bliss, 
I would not recall them, if that could be ; 

For naught do I thank Thee more truly than this, 
That my boys are forever safe with Thee. 



88 



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